Sex and age specific assessment of genetic and environmental influences on body mass index in twins.

Abstract

As in earlier studies, the present one showed a high heritability of BMI throughout adult life, with genetic influences being mainly additive and environmental influences being non-shared, without evidence for major impact of genetic dominance or shared environment. Most twin, family and adoption studies do not suggest important sex or age differences in magnitude of genetic effects, but we found that females had greater heritability than males, and that heritability in males increased by age.