title: Gender and genetic contributions to weight identity among adolescents and young adults in the U.S.
abstract: In this paper, we investigate the possibility that genetic variation contributes to self-perceived weight status among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. Using samples of identical and fraternal twins across four waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) study, we calculate heritability estimates for objective body mass index (BMI) that are in line with previous estimates. We also show that perceived weight status is heritable (h(2) ∼ 0.47) and most importantly that this trait continues to be heritable above and beyond objective BMI (h(2) ∼ 0.25). We then demonstrate significant sex differences in the heritability of weight identity across the four waves of the study, where h(2)women = 0.39, 0.35, 0.40, and 0.50 for each wave, respectively, and h(2)men = 0.10, 0.10, 0.23, and 0.03. These results call for a deeper consideration of both identity and gender in genetics research.
authors: Department of Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Health and Society Program and Population Program, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA. Electronic address: robert.wedow@colorado.edu.
authors: Robbee
authors: R
authors: Wedow
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Briley
authors: Department of Sociology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Population Studies & Training Center, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors: Susan E
authors: SE
authors: Short
authors: Department of Sociology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Health and Society Program and Population Program, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
authors: Jason D
authors: JD
authors: Boardman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000523:psychology; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body mass index; Gender; Heritability; Self-perceived weight status; United States; Weight identity