Changes in eating behaviors and body weight in Koreans: The HealthyTwin Study

Abstract

Objective: We examined the associations between eating behavior at baseline and changes ineating behaviors with weight change, and quantified the contribution of eating behavior andgenetic effects on weight change.Methods: A prospective study of male (n ¼ 482) and female (n ¼ 879) Korean twins and familymembers who were weighed and assessed twice (baseline visit from December 2005 to December2008, follow-up visit 2.7 0.9 y later) using eating behavior subscales (external, emotional, andrestrained eating) as measured by the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire.Results: After adjusting for family variables, eating behavior subscales at baseline, changes inemotional and restrained eating, age, education, weight, and lifestyle at baseline, and menopausalstatus at baseline (for women), an increase in external eating was significantly associated withweight gain in men (1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.41.1.74) and in women (0.63, 95% confidenceinterval 0.13.1.12). None of the three eating behavior subscales at baseline or changes in emotionaland restrained eating were associated with weight change. Eating behavior at baseline and changesin those eating behaviors accounted for 4% and 1% of the changes in weight in men and women,respectively. Additive genetic effects in women contributed to 18% of weight change, whereas inmen there was no genetic contribution.Conclusions: These results suggest that an increase in external eating may predict adult weight gainin men and women. However, the relative contribution of eating behavior to weight change wasvery small, whereas the contribution of genetic effects on weight change was significant in women.