Genes and Obesity: Is There Reason To Change Our Behaviors?
Authors: Roland L. Weinsier
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Editorials1 June 1999Genes and Obesity: Is There Reason To Change Our Behaviors?Roland L. Weinsier, MD, DrPHRoland L. Weinsier, MD, DrPHUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, AL 35294 (Weinsier)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-130-11-199906010-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Several major factors—energy requirements, nutrient partitioning, dietary intake, and physical activity—interact to contribute to the development of obesity. Each factor is influenced by our genotypes. For example, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies show familial resemblance in adiposity, and adoption and twin studies offer clear evidence of a genetic component in human obesity (1-3). It is estimated that 40% to 70% of the within-population variation in obesity is heritable (4). Unfortunately, readers too often mistakenly interpret such reports of high heritability estimates as an indication that genes play a deterministic role in causing obesity, independent of the environment and of behaviors. In ...References1. Vogler GP, Sorensen TI, Stunkard AJ, Srinivasan MR, Rao DC. Influences of genes and shared family environment on adult body mass index assessed in an adoption study by a comprehensive path model. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1995;19:40-5. MedlineGoogle Scholar2. Fabsitz RR, Sholinsky P, Carmelli D. Genetic influences on adult weight gain and maximum body mass index in male twins. Am J Epidemiol. 1994;140:711-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Stunkard AJ, Sorensen TI, Hanis C, Teasdale TW, Chakraborty R, Schull WJ, et al . An adoption study of human obesity. N Engl J Med. 1986;314:193-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Comuzzie AG, Allison DB. The search for human obesity genes. Science. 1998;280:1374-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. 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Physiological predictors of increasing total and central adiposity in aging men and women. Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:2443-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar20. Rissanen AM, Heliovaara M, Knekt P, Reunanen A, Aromaa A. Determinants of weight gain and overweight in adult Finns. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1991;45:419-30. MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Roland L. Weinsier, MD, DrPHAffiliations: University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, AL 35294 (Weinsier)Corresponding Author: Roland L. Weinsier, MD, DrPH, Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1675 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoGenetic and Environmental Influences on Total-Body and Central Abdominal Fat: The Effect of Physical Activity in Female Twins Katherine Samaras , Paul J. Kelly , Mathias N. Chiano , Tim D. Spector , and Lesley V. 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