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Genetic Studies of Obesity across the Life Span

  • Joanne M. Meyer
Chapter
Part of the Perspectives on Individual Differences book series (PIDF)

Abstract

Obesity and correlated aspects of body fat distribution and patterning are established risk factors for several adult clinical disorders, including non-insulindependent diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and some cancers (Van Ittallie & Abraham, 1985; Barrett-Connor, 1985; Bray, 1985; Baumgartner, Roche, Chumlea, Siervogel, & Glueck, 1987; Blair, Habicht, Sims, Sylvester, & Abraham, 1984; Donahue, Abbot, Bloom, Reed, & Katsuhiko-Yano, 1987). Understanding the etiology of obesity is a necessary prerequisite for strategies aimed at reducing, and consequently ameliorating the effects of, excess weight. It has proven difficult, however, to obtain a thorough understanding of this etiology. The etiology is undoubtedly complex, and there is unlikely a single metabolic or behavioral explanation of individual differences in adiposity. Instead, the current evidence suggests that obesity is a consequence of both inherited (genetic) and acquired (environmental) aspects of caloric intake and energy expenditure. These factors most likely differ in their importance over an individual’s lifetime.

Keywords

Genetic Influence Weight Class Adoptive Parent Adoption Study Twin Data 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 1995

Authors and Affiliations

  • Joanne M. Meyer
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Human Genetics, Medical College of VirginiaVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondUSA

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