Genetic and environmental influences on educational disparities in adult weight change: an individual-based pooled analysis of 11 twin cohorts

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2026年6月12日

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Alvaro Obeso,
Gabin Drouard,
Aline Jelenkovic,
Emanuela Medda,
Corrado Fagnani,
Virgilia Toccaceli,
Antti Latvala,
Sari Aaltonen,
Sarah E. Medland,
Scott D. Gordon,
Jooyeon Lee,
Soo Ji Lee,
Joohon Sung,
Hyojin Pyun,
Glen E. Duncan,
Dedra Buchwald,
Juan R. Ordoñana,
Juan F. Sánchez-Romera,
Eduvigis Carrillo,
Carol E. Franz,
William S. Kremen,
Robin P. Corley,
Brooke M. Huibregtse,
Patrik KE Magnusson,
Ida K. Karlsson,
Anna K. Dahl Aslan,
Michael J. Lyons,
Meike Bartels,
Lannie Ligthart,
Eco J. C. de Geus,
Margaret Gatz,
David A. Butler,
René Pool,
Anders Eriksson,
Susanne Bruins,
Nicholas G. Martin,
Dorret I. Boomsma,
Jaakko Kaprio,
Karri Silventoinen

摘要

Introduction

Educational attainment (EA) is negatively associated with body mass index (BMI), but less is known about the association between EA and adult BMI change. We analysed the role of genetic and environmental factors in the associations between EA and BMI trajectory components over adulthood.

Data and methods

Pooled data from 59,490 twins aged 31–99 years (49% women) across 11 cohorts with EA and repeated measures of BMI were used. BMI trajectory components (baseline BMI and BMI change per decade) were estimated using linear mixed-effects (LME) and delta slope methods. EA was derived by regressing years of education on birth year and cohort. Associations between EA and BMI trajectories were evaluated with LME models in both cohort-specific and pooled data. Genetic and environmental contributions were evaluated using structural equation modelling.

Results

EA was more strongly negatively associated with baseline BMI and BMI change (mean of 1.31 and 1.32 kg/m² per decade in men and women, respectively) in women (β = –0.14 kg/m², 95% CI: –0.15 to –0.12; β = –0.02 kg/m²/decade, 95% CI: –0.03 to –0.01, respectively) than in men (β = –0.07, 95% CI: –0.08 to –0.06; β = –0.01, 95% CI: –0.02 to –0.001, respectively). The associations between baseline BMI and EA were explained by genetic factors in men (r_A = –0.10) and by both genetic (r_A = –0.17) and unique environmental factors (r_E = –0.07) in women. For BMI change, the associations with EA were explained by genetic factors (r_A = –0.04 in men; –0.06 in women).

Conclusion

Individuals with higher EA tend to have lower baseline BMI and slower BMI increases across adulthood. These associations are primarily genetically mediated.