Shared genetic effects between age at menarche and disordered eating.
OBJECTIVE
An early age at menarche is associated with disordered eating in women. However, it is unclear whether they share genetic factors. The goal of the current study was to delineate the genetic correlation between age at menarche and disordered eating.


METHODS
Participants included 427 monozygotic and 329 dizygotic 16-17-year-old female twins from the Swedish Twin Study of Child and Adolescent Development. Disordered eating was assessed with the Eating Disorder Inventory-2. Age at menarche was assessed through self-report. A bivariate correlated factors model was used to delineate the genetic correlation between age at menarche and disordered eating.


RESULTS
The analysis revealed a negative genetic correlation of -.18 in the best-fit model, indicating that the genetic factors that influence younger age at menarche are associated with increased liability for disordered eating.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research should examine possible causes for this correlation, such as the estrogen system and gene-environment interactions.
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Jessica H
JH
Baker
Laura M
LM
Thornton
Cynthia M
CM
Bulik
Kenneth S
KS
Kendler
Paul
P
Lichtenstein
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche / Q000235:genetics*