Genetic and Behavioral Determinants of Waist‐Hip Ratio and Waist Circumference in Women Twins

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Abstract
ROSE, KATHRYN M, BETH NEWMAN, ELIZABETH J. MAYER‐DAVIS, JOSEPH V. SELBY. Genetic and behavioral determinants of waist‐hip ratio and waist circumference in women twins. Obes Res. 1998;6:383–392. Objectives: This study examines genetic and behavioral determinants of waist‐hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference among women twins. Research Methods and Procedures: Six hundred eighty participants from the second examination of the Kaiser‐Permanente Women Twins Study (1989 to 1990) were included. Women ranged in age from 31 to 90 years, and included 59% monozygotic and 41% dizygotic twins. Heritabilities of WHR and waist circumference were estimated (range = 0 to 1) using three different statistical methods. Linear regression models that adjusted for the lack of independence within twin pairs were used to assess associations between behavioral variables, WHR, and waist circumference. Results: Age and body mass index‐adjusted heritability estimates ranged from 0.36 to 0.61 for WHR and 0.72 to 0.82 for waist circumference. When considered individually, after adjusting for age and body mass index, all behavioral characteristics, except calorie‐adjusted fat intake, were significantly (pDiscussion: These cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations are consistent with genetic and behavioral predictors of waist circumference and WHR. Whereas the evidence for genetic influences is stronger for waist circumference, both body fat measures may be similarly influenced by the behavioral factors considered.

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