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The genomics of childhood eating behaviours

Author

Listed:
  • Moritz Herle

    (University College London
    Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London)

  • Mohamed Abdulkadir

    (University of Geneva)

  • Christopher Hübel

    (Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London
    South London and Maudsley Hospital
    Karolinska Institutet)

  • Diana Santos Ferreira

    (University of Bristol
    University of Bristol)

  • Rachel Bryant-Waugh

    (Maudsley Hospital)

  • Ruth J. F. Loos

    (The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

  • Cynthia M. Bulik

    (Karolinska Institutet
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Bianca Stavola

    (University College London)

  • Nadia Micali

    (University College London
    University of Geneva
    Geneva University Hospital)

Abstract

Eating behaviours may be expressions of genetic risk for obesity and are potential antecedents of later eating disorders. However, childhood eating behaviours are heterogeneous and transient. Here we show associations between polygenic scores for body mass index (BMI-PGS) and anorexia nervosa (AN-PGS) with eating behaviour trajectories during the first 10 years of life using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), n = 7,825. Results indicated that 1 s.d. increase in the BMI-PGS was associated with a 30–37% increased risk for early- and mid-childhood overeating. In contrast, 1 s.d. increase in BMI-PGS was associated with a 20% decrease in risk of persistent high levels of undereating and a 15% decrease in risk of persistent fussy eating. There was no evidence for a significant association between AN-PGS and eating behaviour trajectories. Our results support the notion that child eating behaviours share common genetic variants associated with BMI.

Suggested Citation

  • Moritz Herle & Mohamed Abdulkadir & Christopher Hübel & Diana Santos Ferreira & Rachel Bryant-Waugh & Ruth J. F. Loos & Cynthia M. Bulik & Bianca Stavola & Nadia Micali, 2021. "The genomics of childhood eating behaviours," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 625-630, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:5:d:10.1038_s41562-020-01019-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-01019-y
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