The Role of Eating Behaviours in Genetic Susceptibility to Obesity

Moritz Herle, Andrea D Smith, Alice Kininmonth, Clare Llewellyn

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Eating behaviours are hypothesised to be the behavioural expression of genetic risk of obesity. In this review, we summarise findings from behavioural genetic research on the association between genetic risk for obesity and validated psychometrics measures of eating behaviours in children and adults (published in the past 10 years). Recent Findings: Twin studies have produced some evidence for a shared genetic aetiology underlying body mass index and eating behaviours. Studies using measured genetic susceptibility to obesity have suggested that increased genetic liability for obesity is associated with variation in obesogenic eating behaviours such as emotional and uncontrolled eating. Summary: More research on this topic is needed. Especially longitudinal studies using genetically sensitive designs to investigate the direction of genetic pathways between genetic liability of eating behaviours to weight and vice versa, as well as the potential subsequent link to eating disorders.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)512-521
Number of pages10
JournalCurrent obesity reports
Volume9
Issue number4
Early online date3 Sept 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2020

Keywords

  • Appetite
  • Appetitive traits
  • Behavioural susceptibility
  • CEBQ
  • Eating behaviours
  • Genetics
  • Obesity
  • Polygenic risk scores
  • Twin studies

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