title: Causal attributions of obese men and women in genetic testing: implications of genetic/biological attributions.
abstract: The present study sought to investigate genetic/biological attributions of obesity, their associations with a predisposition to obesity and their crossectional and longitudinal implications for weight regulation in obese individuals presenting for genetic testing and counselling. A total of 421 obese men and women underwent psychological and anthropometric assessment and a mutation screen of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene. At study entry, women revealed more genetic/biological attributions than men on the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire adapted to obesity (86.2% versus 59.7%). Genetic/biological attributions of obesity were associated in both sexes with a family history of obesity, assessed through Stunkard's Figure Rating Scale. In both sexes, genetic/biological attributions were unrelated to weight regulation beliefs and behaviour (i.e. self-efficacy, controllability beliefs, restrained eating and physical activity), assessed through standardised questionnaires or interview at baseline and at six-month follow-up. In addition, causal attributions and weight regulation beliefs and behaviour were not predictive of body mass index at six-month follow-up. Overall, the results indicate that causal attributions of obesity to genetic/biological factors in obese individuals presenting for genetic screening and counselling are crossectionally and longitudinally unrelated to weight regulation and longer-term weight outcome. Those who attribute their obesity to genetic/biological factors likely have a familial obesity risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapy, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany. hilbert@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hilbert
authors.forename: Jan-Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dierk
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conradt
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schlumberger
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hinney
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hebebrand
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rief
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015984:Causality; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000097:blood; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4