Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Familial resemblance was shown for body composition and risk factors in several studies. In twin studies which are powerful tool to assess genetically mediated traits significant resemblance was found in twins reared apart. In pairs of monozygotic twins was found significant resemblance in response to positive and negative energy balance. Aim of the study was to evaluate relationship of anthropometric parameters of parents and socioeconomic characteristics of family to weight, height and BMI of their children.

Methods: In families participating in the multicentric paneuropean project DIOGenes (Diet, Obesity and GENES) families with both parents being obese or overweight were examined. Resemblance of anthropometric variables between parents and their child participating in the study was assessed before start of weight management programme. Families with at least one obese or overweight parent and at least one child aged 6–18 years from 8 European countries were participating in the Diogenes project. For assessment of familial resemblances 99 families in which both parents entered the study were selected. Anthropometric characteristics of subjects (weight, height, waist and hip circumferences) were measured, BMI and waist to hip ratio was calculated. Body composition was examined by DEXA or by bioelectrical impedance method. Anthropometric parameters of parents and socioeconomic characteristics of families were included into statistical analysis as independent variables. Multivariate regression with reduction of dimensionality (method of bidirectional orthogonal projections to latent structures) was used.

Results: Significant relationship between weight, height and BMI of child (dependent variables) and age of child, number of persons in family, height of father (positive correlation) and age of father at birth of child and age of mother at birth of child (negative correlation) was found. Variability shared between dependent and independent variables was 52.8% (49.1% after cross validation).

Conclusion: Weight, height and BMI of child is positively correlated with height of father and number of persons in family and negatively with age of parents at birth of child.

Supported by the European Community (Contract no. FP6-513946), http://www.diogenes-eu.org and by the grant of the IGA of Ministry of Health CR No. IGA NS/9830-4.