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Genetic influence on appetite in children

International Journal of Obesity volume 32, pages 1468–1473 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

The modern environment is ubiquitously ‘obesogenic’, yet people vary enormously in weight. One factor contributing to weight variation could be genetically determined differences in appetite that modulate susceptibility to the environment. We assessed the relative contribution of genes and environment for two aspects of appetite that have been implicated in obesity.

Methods:

Parents of a population-based sample of 8- to 11-year-old twins (n=5435 pairs) completed validated, questionnaire measures of responsiveness to satiety and responsiveness to food cues for both children.

Results:

Quantitative genetic model fitting gave estimates of 63% (95% confidence interval: 39–81%) for the heritability of satiety responsiveness and 75% (52–85%) for food cue responsiveness. Shared and non-shared environmental influences were 21% (0–51%) and 16% (10–21%) for satiety responsiveness, and 10% (0–38%) and 15% (10–18%) for food cue responsiveness, respectively.

Conclusions:

The high heritability of appetitive traits that are known to be related to weight suggests that genetic vulnerability to weight gain could operate through behavioural as well as metabolic pathways. Intervention strategies aimed at improving satiety responsiveness and reducing food cue responsiveness in high-risk individuals could help in preventing the development of obesity.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from the Biological and Biotechnology Research Council. The Twins’ Early Development Study is funded by the Medical Research Council. SC is funded by an interdisciplinary fellowship from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Medical Research Council, CH and RP by the Medical Research Council and JW by Cancer Research UK.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London, London, UK

    S Carnell & J Wardle

  2. King's College London, Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

    C M A Haworth & R Plomin

Authors
  1. S Carnell
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  2. C M A Haworth
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  3. R Plomin
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  4. J Wardle
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Correspondence to J Wardle.

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Carnell, S., Haworth, C., Plomin, R. et al. Genetic influence on appetite in children. Int J Obes 32, 1468–1473 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.127

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