Emotional eating is learned not inherited in children, regardless of obesity risk
Summary Background Emotional over‐eating (EOE) and emotional under‐eating (EUE) are common behaviours that develop in early childhood and are hypothesised to play a role in weight status. Data from a British twin cohort demonstrated that environmental, rather than genetic, factors shape individual d...
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Published in: | Pediatric obesity Vol. 13; no. 10; pp. 628 - 631 |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Journal Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
England
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
01-10-2018
John Wiley and Sons Inc |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Summary
Background
Emotional over‐eating (EOE) and emotional under‐eating (EUE) are common behaviours that develop in early childhood and are hypothesised to play a role in weight status. Data from a British twin cohort demonstrated that environmental, rather than genetic, factors shape individual differences in both behaviours in early childhood.
Objective
The aim of this current study was to replicate this finding in a subsample (n = 398) of 4‐year‐old twins selected for high or low risk of obesity from another population‐based cohort of British twins (the Twins Early Development Study).
Methods
Parental ratings of child EOE and EUE were analysed using genetic model fitting.
Results
Genetic influence was not significant, while shared environmental factors explained 71% (52–79%) of the variance in EOE and 77% (62–85%) in EUE. The two behaviours correlated positively (r = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.61), and about two‐thirds of the shared environmental factors influencing EOE and EUE were the same (rC = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.85).
Conclusions
Emotional eating in childhood is shaped by the home family environment; parents are therefore promising intervention targets. |
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ISSN: | 2047-6302 2047-6310 |
DOI: | 10.1111/ijpo.12428 |