Obesity Risk

Abstract

There is strong evidence to suggest that genetic factors play a role in the development of obesity. While much of the scientific community is focused on genes involved in metabolism and physiological processes related to obesity onset, the influence of genes on food preferences, binge eating, emotional overeating, and other eating traits has been relatively underexplored. In this chapter, we review the evidence for genetic influences on obesity-related eating traits. The chapter focuses on eating traits through which obesity-predisposing genes become expressed and how these issues are studied in developing children. The chapter begins with a brief review of the concept of energy balance, noting that daily energy imbalances as slight as 30 cal/day, in young children, can lead to obesity onset. Next, the chapter reviews the strong evidence for familial transmission, and inheritance (or 'heritability'), of obesity. The following section addresses the issue of obesity-promoting eating behaviors, arguing that certain eating patterns and food preferences that contribute to obesity onset may be heritable—just like metabolic or physiological processes. The chapter then reviews the 'high-risk' research design as a strategy to investigate the development of body fat and eating behaviors in children predisposed to obesity. Data from the University of Pennsylvania's 'Infant Growth Study' and the United Kingdom's 'Twins Early Development Study' are presented. Next, commentary is provided regarding specific genes that confer risk for obesity, with attention to the FTO gene. The construct of emotional eating is then reviewed, followed by a discussion of genetic testing for obesity. The chapter concludes by discussing topics for future research, including implications of genetics studies for prevention and translational research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)