1. Genetic risk factors for disordered eating in adolescent males and females
- Author
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Baker, Jessica H., Maes, Hermine H., Aggen, Steven H., Lissner, Lauren, Lichtenstein, Paul, and Kendler, Kenneth S.
- Subjects
Eating disorders -- Risk factors ,Genetic research ,Psychology and mental health - Abstract
The etiologic role of genetic and environmental factors on disordered eating was examined in a sample of 15- to 17-year-old female-female, male-male, and opposite-sex twin pairs. Also assessed was whether a single factor is underlying 3 facets (body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, bulimia) of disordered eating, including the possible importance of sex differences. Univariate model-fitting analyses indicated that genetic factors are more important for girls and environment more important for boys for body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. A multivariate common factor analysis indicated that a single factor accounted for the association among these 3 facets of disordered eating in both sexes. However, only 50% of the genetic risk for this factor is shared between the sexes. Keywords: eating disorder, disordered eating, twin study, genetics, sex differences
- Published
- 2009