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

Abstract 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/m 2 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.

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Journal
International Journal of Obesity
Published
2026-06-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-026-02116-0
Primary Topic
Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Type
article
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article

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

Juan F. Sánchez-Romera, Jaakko A. Kaprio, Emanuela Medda, Virgilia Toccaceli et al.
International Journal of Obesity
Cognitive Abilities and Testing
article

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

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

Abstract

Abstract 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/m 2 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.

International Journal of Obesity
Boston University (US), University of Southern California (US), University of Helsinki (FI), Seoul National University (KR), University of the Basque Country (ES), Washington State University Spokane (US), University of Colorado Boulder (US), University of Washington (US), University of Skövde (SE), QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (AU), Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT), Seoul National University Hospital (KR), Karolinska Institutet (SE), University of California San Diego (US), National Center for Health Research (US), Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FI), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (ES), University of Tartu (EE), Universidad de Murcia (ES), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
European Commission, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Cognitive Abilities and Testing
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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