SES-of-Origin and BMI in Youth: Comparing Germany and Minnesota.

ABSTRACT: Increasing obesity is a world-wide health concern. Its most commonly used indicator, body mass index (BMI), consistently shows considerable genetic and shared environmental variance throughout life, the latter particularly in youth. Several adult studies have observed less total and genetically influenced variance with higher attained SES. These studies offer clues about sources of the 'obesity epidemic' but analogous youth studies of SES-of-origin are needed. Genetic and environmental influences and moderating effects of SES may vary in countries with different health policies, lifestyles, and degrees/sources of social inequality, offering further clues to the sources of the obesity epidemic. We examined SES-of-origin moderation of BMI variance in the German TwinLife study's cohorts asses

SUBMITTER: Johnson W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6326974 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature