Food Genetics Behavior Study

Overview

A genetic risk for obesity does not always translate to the development of obesity among children, which points to the presence of risk-modifying factors that likely relate to energy balance behaviors as key behavioral drivers. Using an integrated approach to comprehensively examine the interplay between genotype and phenotype, this study will systematically assess the extent to which energy balance behaviors, alone or in combination, in conjunction with family-level influences can modify behavioral and genetic predispositions to childhood obesity in a high-risk sample of predominantly minority children from low-resource backgrounds. Identifying protective factors that may mitigate the impact of obesity risk on weight and adiposity outcomes is critical for moving the prevention of childhood obesity into a new direction.

This study examines the interplay between genotype and phenotype and assesses if energy balance behaviors in the context of the family environment, alone or in combination, can modify behavioral and genetic predispositions to childhood obesity. The research aims to prospectively evaluate the extent to which associations of a heightened drive to eat (HDE) on 1-year changes in weight and adiposity outcomes are independent or additive to those of a genetic risk for obesity among children. In addition, the study aims to prospectively examine risk-modifying energy balance behaviors in areas of diet, physical activity, and sleep that may mitigate the detrimental impact of a HDE or high genetic risk on weight and adiposity outcomes and test whether these factors differ for HDE versus a high genetic risk of obesity on those outcomes. Lastly, the research aims to examine the impact of family-level influences in areas of family functioning and parent feeding on risk-modifying energy balance behaviors in children.