Genetic and environmental influences on binge eating in the absence of compensatory behaviors: a population-based twin study.
OBJECTIVE
The current study explores the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence liability to binge eating in the absence of compensatory behaviors (BE) in a population-based sample of twins.


METHODS
Questionnaire data on 8,045 same-sex and opposite-sex twins, aged 18-31 years, from a Norwegian twin registry were used to assess BE during the last 6 months.


RESULTS
The best-fitting biometrical model suggested that the heritability of BE was 41% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31-0.50). Individual environmental factors accounted for the rest of the variance (59%; 95% CI: 0.50-0.69). No significant sex differences were found, but the statistical power to detect such effects was low. Shared environmental influences on the liability to BE in males could not be ruled out.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate significant additive genetic influences on BE, supporting the validity of the core features of binge eating disorder as a diagnostic category.
Division of Epidemiology, Department of Mental Health, The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, N-0403 Oslo, Norway. ted.reichborn-kjennerud@fhi.no
Ted
T
Reichborn-Kjennerud
Cynthia M
CM
Bulik
Kristian
K
Tambs
Jennifer R
JR
Harris
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*