Familial Incidence and Influence on the Development of Obesity

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity in families of patients seeking surgical treatment for their severe obesity was investigated. METHODS: Patients listed for surgery (vertical gastroplasty) for severe obesity (BMI > 35) were interviewed and asked for details of the numbers of members of the immediate family who were at least 6.5 kg overweight. The data collected on 87 morbidly obese patients were compared to data from a group of 50 patients, all of whom had a BMI of less than 25 and were not overweight, who were acting as controls. RESULTS: Obese patients had significantly more overweight family members than normal weight controls,(p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight in the families of obese patients may be genetically and environmentally influenced.