Genetic Influences on Body Mass Index in Early Childhood

It has become increasingly clear that hereditary factors play an important role in human fatness and some evidence for a genetic etiology of body fat has also been obtained in studies of children.

Abstract

It has become increasingly clear that hereditary factors play an important role in human fatness. Studies of adoptive families and twins reared together and apart have indicated a strong familial component to body fat that appears to be largely genetic in origin (Stunkard, Foch, & Hrubec, 1986; Stunkard, Harris, Pedersen, & McClearn, 1990; Price, Cadoret, & Stunkard, 1987; Price & Gottesman, 1991). Although such studies have typically focused on genetic contributions to fatness in adults, some evidence for a genetic etiology of body fat has also been obtained in studies of children (Brook, Huntley, & Slack, 1975; Price et al., 1990b).