title: Gene and environment interaction: Is the differential susceptibility hypothesis relevant for obesity?
abstract: The differential susceptibility model states that a given genetic variant is associated with an increased risk of pathology in negative environments but greater than average resilience in enriched ones. While this theory was first implemented in psychiatric-genetic research, it may also help us to unravel the complex ways that genes and environments interact to influence feeding behavior and obesity. We reviewed evidence on gene vs. environment interactions that influence obesity development, aiming to support the applicability of the differential susceptibility model for this condition, and propose that various environmental "layers" relevant for human development should be considered when bearing the differential susceptibility model in mind. Mother-child relationship, socioeconomic status and individual's response are important modifiers of BMI and food intake when interacting with gene variants, "for better and for worse". While only a few studies to date have investigated obesity outcomes using this approach, we propose that the differential susceptibility hypothesis is in fact highly applicable to the study of genetic and environmental influences on feeding behavior and obesity risk.
authors.affiliation: Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill Center for the Convergence of Health and Economics, McGill University, Bronfman Building, 1001 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC H3A 1G5, Canada; McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada. Electronic address: betinha_dm@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalle Molle
authors.affiliation: Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill Center for the Convergence of Health and Economics, McGill University, Bronfman Building, 1001 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC H3A 1G5, Canada.
authors.forename: Hajar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fatemi
authors.affiliation: McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagher
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 100 Stokes Street, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Levitan
authors.affiliation: Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Douglas Institute, Perry Pavilion, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill Center for the Convergence of Health and Economics, McGill University, Bronfman Building, 1001 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, QC H3A 1G5, Canada.
authors.forename: Laurette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubé
mesh_terms: D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity
keywords: Development; Differential susceptibility; Eating behavior; Gene–environment interaction; Obesity