Childbirth moderates the genetic and environmental influences on BMI in adult twins.
We report a study of the moderating role that the number of childbirths has on the genetic and environmental influences on BMI variation. We used a classical twin design with a sample of 704 adult female twins (334 monozygotic and 370 dizygotic). A gene-environment interaction (G x E) model was applied to estimate the moderating effects of childbearing. Results show that age and number of children exert a significant positive main effect on BMI. Furthermore, we found significant moderating effects of childbearing, with a larger number of children associated with an increased sensitivity to environmental factors.
Rebollo-Mesa
Irene
I
Section of General Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College of London, Strand, London, UK. Irene.rebollo_mesa@kcl.ac.uk
Ordoñana
Juan R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D036801:Parturition; D014427:Twins; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics*