Thinness--not obesity--has a genetic component.

Journal Article (Review;Journal Article)

The body mass of adoptees was compared with the body mass of both biologic and adoptive parents using data from the Danish Adoption Register. Chi-square analyses revealed that biologic heritability is small and is confined to thin, not obese body mass. It is probable that the inheritance of thin body mass constitutes a mild protective factor that mitigates against development of obesity caused by environmental factors.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Costanzo, PR; Schiffman, SS

Published Date

  • January 1989

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 13 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 55 - 58

PubMed ID

  • 2671834

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1873-7528

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0149-7634

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/s0149-7634(89)80052-1

Language

  • eng