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Gene–environment interactions related to body mass: School policies and social context as environmental moderators

Author

Listed:
  • Jason D Boardman

    (Institute of Behavioral Science and Department of Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA)

  • Michael E Roettger

    (Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA)

  • Benjamin W Domingue

    (Institute of Behavioral Science and School of Education, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA)

  • Matthew B McQueen
  • Brett C Haberstick

    (Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA)

  • Kathleen Mullan Harris

    (Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina, USA)

Abstract

This paper highlights the role of institutional resources and policies, whose origins lie in political processes, in shaping the genetic etiology of body mass among a national sample of adolescents. Using data from Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we decompose the variance of body mass into environmental and genetic components. We then examine the extent to which the genetic influences on body mass are different across the 134 schools in the study. Taking advantage of school differences in both health-related policies and social norms regarding body size, we examine how institutional resources and policies alter the relative impact of genetic influences on body mass. For the entire sample, we estimate a heritability of .82, with the remaining .18 due to unique environmental factors. However, we also show variation about this estimate and provide evidence suggesting that social norms and institutional policies often mask genetic vulnerabilities to increased weight. Empirically, we demonstrate that more restrictive school policies and policies designed to curb weight gain are also associated with decreases in the proportion of variance in body mass that is due to additive genetic influences.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason D Boardman & Michael E Roettger & Benjamin W Domingue & Matthew B McQueen & Brett C Haberstick & Kathleen Mullan Harris, 2012. "Gene–environment interactions related to body mass: School policies and social context as environmental moderators," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 24(3), pages 370-388, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:24:y:2012:i:3:p:370-388
    DOI: 10.1177/0951629812437751
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. PONGOU Roland & SHAPIRO David & TENIKUE Michel, 2018. "Missing Twins: Fetal Origins, Institutions, and Twin-singleton Mortality Convergence," LISER Working Paper Series 2018-04, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    2. Lauren L. Schmitz & Dalton Conley, 2016. "The Impact of Late-Career Job Loss and Genotype on Body Mass Index," NBER Working Papers 22348, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Ullmann, S. Heidi & Goldman, Noreen & Pebley, Anne R., 2013. "Contextual factors and weight change over time: A comparison between U.S. Hispanics and other population sub-groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 40-48.
    4. Wedow, Robbee & Briley, Daniel A. & Short, Susan E. & Boardman, Jason D., 2016. "Gender and genetic contributions to weight identity among adolescents and young adults in the U.S," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 99-107.
    5. Owen, Gwilym & Jones, Kelvyn & Harris, Richard, 2017. "Does neighbourhood deprivation affect the genetic influence on body mass?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 38-45.
    6. Pamela Herd & Nora Cate Schaeffer & Kerryann DiLoreto & Karen Jacques & John Stevenson & Federico Rey & Carol Roan, 2018. "The Influence of Social Conditions Across the Life Course on the Human Gut Microbiota: A Pilot Project With the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 73(1), pages 124-133.
    7. Jason Boardman & Benjamin Domingue & Casey Blalock & Brett Haberstick & Kathleen Harris & Matthew McQueen, 2014. "Is the Gene-Environment Interaction Paradigm Relevant to Genome-Wide Studies? The Case of Education and Body Mass Index," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(1), pages 119-139, February.
    8. Kowaleski-Jones, Lori & Brown, Barbara B. & Fan, Jessie X. & Hanson, Heidi A. & Smith, Ken R. & Zick, Cathleen D., 2017. "The joint effects of family risk of obesity and neighborhood environment on obesity among women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 17-24.

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