CONTEXT: Previous research suggests substantial increases in genetic effects on disordered eating across adolescence. Unfortunately, these studies were cross-sectional and focused primarily on early (age 11 years) vs late (age 17 years) adolescence. OBJECTIVE: To examine longitudinal changes in genetic and environmental influences on disordered eating across early, mid, and late adolescence. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population-based study of female same-sex twins. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred seventy-two female adolescent twins from the Minnesota Twin Family Study assessed at ages 11, 14, and 18 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Disordered eating symptoms (ie, body dissatisfaction, weight preoccupation, binge eating, and the use of compensatory behaviors) were assessed with the total score from the Minnesota Eating Behavior Survey. RESULTS: Biometric model-fitting indicated significant changes in genetic and shared environmental effects across early to mid adolescence. Although genetic factors accounted for a negligible proportion (6%) of variance at age 11 years, genes increased in importance and accounted for roughly half of the variance (46%) in disordered eating at ages 14 and 18 years. Shared environmental influences decreased substantially across these same ages. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the transition from early to mid adolescence as a critical time for the emergence of a genetic diathesis for disordered eating. The increase in genetic effects during this developmental stage corroborates previous research implicating puberty in the genetic etiology of eating disorders.
CONTEXT: Previous research suggests substantial increases in genetic effects on disordered eating across adolescence. Unfortunately, these studies were cross-sectional and focused primarily on early (age 11 years) vs late (age 17 years) adolescence. OBJECTIVE: To examine longitudinal changes in genetic and environmental influences on disordered eating across early, mid, and late adolescence. DESIGN AND SETTING: Population-based study of female same-sex twins. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred seventy-two female adolescent twins from the Minnesota Twin Family Study assessed at ages 11, 14, and 18 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Disordered eating symptoms (ie, body dissatisfaction, weight preoccupation, binge eating, and the use of compensatory behaviors) were assessed with the total score from the Minnesota Eating Behavior Survey. RESULTS: Biometric model-fitting indicated significant changes in genetic and shared environmental effects across early to mid adolescence. Although genetic factors accounted for a negligible proportion (6%) of variance at age 11 years, genes increased in importance and accounted for roughly half of the variance (46%) in disordered eating at ages 14 and 18 years. Shared environmental influences decreased substantially across these same ages. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the transition from early to mid adolescence as a critical time for the emergence of a genetic diathesis for disordered eating. The increase in genetic effects during this developmental stage corroborates previous research implicating puberty in the genetic etiology of eating disorders.
Authors: Shannon M O'Connor; Kelly L Klump; Jessica L VanHuysse; Matt McGue; William Iacono Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2015-08-28 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Melissa A Munn-Chernoff; Matthew B McQueen; Gary L Stetler; Brett C Haberstick; Soo Hyun Rhee; Laura E Sobik; Robin P Corley; Andrew Smolen; John K Hewitt; Michael C Stallings Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2012-01-24 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: K L Klump; B A Hildebrandt; S M O'Connor; P K Keel; M Neale; C L Sisk; S Boker; S A Burt Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2015-07-15 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Jessica L Suisman; Shannon M O'Connor; Steffanie Sperry; J Kevin Thompson; Pamela K Keel; S Alexandra Burt; Michael Neale; Steven Boker; Cheryl Sisk; Kelly L Klump Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2012-10-03 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Kelly L Klump; Kristen M Culbert; Shannon O'Connor; Natasha Fowler; S Alexandra Burt Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2017-05-31 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Kelly L Klump; S Alexandra Burt; Alexia Spanos; Matt McGue; William G Iacono; Tracey D Wade Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2010-12 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Lauren Reba-Harrelson; Ann Von Holle; Robert M Hamer; Leila Torgersen; Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud; Cynthia M Bulik Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2009-09-14