Emotional eating is learned not inherited in children, regardless of obesity risk

Summary Background Emotional over‐eating (EOE) and emotional under‐eating (EUE) are common behaviours that develop in early childhood and are hypothesised to play a role in weight status. Data from a British twin cohort demonstrated that environmental, rather than genetic, factors shape individual d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric obesity 2018-10, Vol.13 (10), p.628-631
Main Authors: Herle, M., Fildes, A., Llewellyn, C. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body Weight
Child
Child, Preschool
Childhood obesity
Childrens health
eating behaviour
emotional eating
Emotions
Environment
Feeding and Eating Disorders - etiology
Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology
Feeding Behavior - psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Obesity
Parents
Pediatric Obesity - etiology
Pediatric Obesity - psychology
Pediatrics
Risk Factors
Short Communication
twin research
Twins
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Summary:Summary Background Emotional over‐eating (EOE) and emotional under‐eating (EUE) are common behaviours that develop in early childhood and are hypothesised to play a role in weight status. Data from a British twin cohort demonstrated that environmental, rather than genetic, factors shape individual differences in both behaviours in early childhood. Objective The aim of this current study was to replicate this finding in a subsample (n = 398) of 4‐year‐old twins selected for high or low risk of obesity from another population‐based cohort of British twins (the Twins Early Development Study). Methods Parental ratings of child EOE and EUE were analysed using genetic model fitting. Results Genetic influence was not significant, while shared environmental factors explained 71% (52–79%) of the variance in EOE and 77% (62–85%) in EUE. The two behaviours correlated positively (r = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.61), and about two‐thirds of the shared environmental factors influencing EOE and EUE were the same (rC = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.85). Conclusions Emotional eating in childhood is shaped by the home family environment; parents are therefore promising intervention targets.
ISSN:2047-6302
2047-6310
DOI:10.1111/ijpo.12428