Abstract
Objective. Insight into genetic and environmental influences on fat mass, independent of body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), is expected to enhance methods for treating pediatric obesity. However, few studies have estimated the heritability of fat mass in pediatric samples, and those conducted have relied primarily on BMI measurements. Present Study. Using bioimpedance analysis, the present study tested a series of hypotheses predicting significant genetic and environmental influences on percent body fat (PBF) above and beyond BMI. Subjects were 66 pairs of twins, including 41 monozygotic and 25 dizygotic pairs, from 3 to 17 years of age. Structural equation modeling tested hypotheses, adjusting for demographic variables. Results. Analyses indicated significant genetic influences on PBF, with genes estimated to account for 75% to 80% of the phenotypic variation. The remaining variation was attributable to nonshared environmental influences. Multivariate analyses revealed sizable genetic correlations and environmental correlations between BMI and PBF (r(g) = .74 and r(e) = .67, respectively), suggesting that some genes and environmental experiences influence both phenotypes. However, analyses confirmed genetic and environmental influences on PBF above and beyond BMI. For example, 62.5% of the total genetic variation in PBF was attributable to genes that influenced PBF but not BMI. Conclusion. There seems to be a substantial genetic contribution to fat mass distinct from BMI in a sample of children and adolescents. Studies testing putative genetic or environmental determinants of pediatric obesity might be strengthened further by including research-based body composition methods.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 61-67 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Pediatrics |
| Volume | 104 |
| Issue number | 1 I |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1999 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Bioimpedance analysis
- Body composition
- Body mass index
- Heritability
- Non-shared environment
- Pediatric obesity
- Twin design
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Evidence for independent genetic influences on fat mass and body mass index in a pediatric twin sample. / Faith, Myles S.; Pietrobelli, Angelo; Nuñez, Christopher; Heo, Moonseong; Heymsfield, Steven B.; Allison, David B.
In: Pediatrics, Vol. 104, No. 1 I, 1999, p. 61-67.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence for independent genetic influences on fat mass and body mass index in a pediatric twin sample
AU - Faith, Myles S.
AU - Pietrobelli, Angelo
AU - Nuñez, Christopher
AU - Heo, Moonseong
AU - Heymsfield, Steven B.
AU - Allison, David B.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Objective. Insight into genetic and environmental influences on fat mass, independent of body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), is expected to enhance methods for treating pediatric obesity. However, few studies have estimated the heritability of fat mass in pediatric samples, and those conducted have relied primarily on BMI measurements. Present Study. Using bioimpedance analysis, the present study tested a series of hypotheses predicting significant genetic and environmental influences on percent body fat (PBF) above and beyond BMI. Subjects were 66 pairs of twins, including 41 monozygotic and 25 dizygotic pairs, from 3 to 17 years of age. Structural equation modeling tested hypotheses, adjusting for demographic variables. Results. Analyses indicated significant genetic influences on PBF, with genes estimated to account for 75% to 80% of the phenotypic variation. The remaining variation was attributable to nonshared environmental influences. Multivariate analyses revealed sizable genetic correlations and environmental correlations between BMI and PBF (r(g) = .74 and r(e) = .67, respectively), suggesting that some genes and environmental experiences influence both phenotypes. However, analyses confirmed genetic and environmental influences on PBF above and beyond BMI. For example, 62.5% of the total genetic variation in PBF was attributable to genes that influenced PBF but not BMI. Conclusion. There seems to be a substantial genetic contribution to fat mass distinct from BMI in a sample of children and adolescents. Studies testing putative genetic or environmental determinants of pediatric obesity might be strengthened further by including research-based body composition methods.
AB - Objective. Insight into genetic and environmental influences on fat mass, independent of body mass index (BMI; kg/m2), is expected to enhance methods for treating pediatric obesity. However, few studies have estimated the heritability of fat mass in pediatric samples, and those conducted have relied primarily on BMI measurements. Present Study. Using bioimpedance analysis, the present study tested a series of hypotheses predicting significant genetic and environmental influences on percent body fat (PBF) above and beyond BMI. Subjects were 66 pairs of twins, including 41 monozygotic and 25 dizygotic pairs, from 3 to 17 years of age. Structural equation modeling tested hypotheses, adjusting for demographic variables. Results. Analyses indicated significant genetic influences on PBF, with genes estimated to account for 75% to 80% of the phenotypic variation. The remaining variation was attributable to nonshared environmental influences. Multivariate analyses revealed sizable genetic correlations and environmental correlations between BMI and PBF (r(g) = .74 and r(e) = .67, respectively), suggesting that some genes and environmental experiences influence both phenotypes. However, analyses confirmed genetic and environmental influences on PBF above and beyond BMI. For example, 62.5% of the total genetic variation in PBF was attributable to genes that influenced PBF but not BMI. Conclusion. There seems to be a substantial genetic contribution to fat mass distinct from BMI in a sample of children and adolescents. Studies testing putative genetic or environmental determinants of pediatric obesity might be strengthened further by including research-based body composition methods.
KW - Bioimpedance analysis
KW - Body composition
KW - Body mass index
KW - Heritability
KW - Non-shared environment
KW - Pediatric obesity
KW - Twin design
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033015156&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1542/peds.104.1.61
DO - 10.1542/peds.104.1.61
M3 - Article
VL - 104
SP - 61
EP - 67
JO - Pediatrics
JF - Pediatrics
SN - 0031-4005
IS - 1 I
ER -