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Puberty moderates genetic influences on disordered eating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2007

KELLY L. KLUMP ,
PATRICK S. PERKINS ,
S. ALEXANDRA BURT ,
MATT McGUE  and
WILLIAM G. IACONO
KELLY L. KLUMP
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
PATRICK S. PERKINS
Affiliation:
Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
S. ALEXANDRA BURT
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
MATT McGUE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
WILLIAM G. IACONO
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Abstract

Background. Previous research suggests that genetic influences on disordered eating may be greater in pubertal than pre-pubertal girls. Although these findings are consistent with pubertal activation of genetic influences on disordered eating, earlier studies were unable to directly test this hypothesis. The purpose of the present study therefore was to directly examine this possibility by investigating whether pubertal development moderates genetic influences on disordered eating.

Method. Participants were 510 female adolescent twins from the Minnesota Twin Family Study. Disordered eating was measured with the Total Score of the Minnesota Eating Behavior Survey, while pubertal status was assessed with the Pubertal Development Scale.

Results. Consistent with our hypothesis, model-fitting indicated significant increases in genetic influence on disordered eating with advancing pubertal development.

Conclusions. These findings suggest that puberty influences the expression of genes for disordered eating.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 37 , Issue 5 , May 2007 , pp. 627 - 634
Copyright
2007 Cambridge University Press

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