Heritability of Health Behaviours
Suontama, Matilda (2024-12-18)
Heritability of Health Behaviours
(18.12.2024)
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on:
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe202501204747
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe202501204747
Tiivistelmä
Health behavior significantly impacts life expectancy, the number of healthy life years, and overall life
satisfaction. Health behaviours include any actions taken to promote, protect, or maintain health.
Public health education has effectively increased awareness of the fundamentals of healthy behaviour
among the general population. However, the practical implementation of these behaviours remains
insufficient. A key underlying factor is that, similar to other traits, health behaviours are also heritable.
This literature review summarizes the evidence on the heritability of four major health behaviours:
dietary patterns, smoking behaviour, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. The primary focus is
on prospective parent-child studies and twin studies. Twin studies are particularly valuable as they
allow researchers to distinguish between traits influenced by shared environmental factors and those
attributable to genetic heritability. Additionally, this review includes findings from twin, family, and
genetic association studies. The key findings of these studies are compiled and presented as summaries
and in tables.
The review points to significant heritability of health behaviours persisting into middle age.
Approximately half of the variance in these behaviours can be attributed to genetic factors. Of the four
reviewed health behaviours, smoking behaviour and alcohol consumption exhibit higher heritability
compared to dietary patterns and physical activity. Unexpectedly, the influence of shared environment,
such as parental upbringing during childhood, showed minimal impact on behaviours in adulthood.
The findings suggest that the influence of health education received during childhood might diminish
into adulthood. On the other hand, the substantial genetic contribution to health behaviours in adults
fosters empathy towards individuals affected by prevalent public health diseases largely influenced by
one’s behaviour. However, while genetics significantly affect health behaviours, an individual’s
environment also plays a crucial role. This offers hope: While inherited attributes are permanent,
environment, such as residence and social networks, can be actively affected with possible positive
health behaviour consequences.
satisfaction. Health behaviours include any actions taken to promote, protect, or maintain health.
Public health education has effectively increased awareness of the fundamentals of healthy behaviour
among the general population. However, the practical implementation of these behaviours remains
insufficient. A key underlying factor is that, similar to other traits, health behaviours are also heritable.
This literature review summarizes the evidence on the heritability of four major health behaviours:
dietary patterns, smoking behaviour, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. The primary focus is
on prospective parent-child studies and twin studies. Twin studies are particularly valuable as they
allow researchers to distinguish between traits influenced by shared environmental factors and those
attributable to genetic heritability. Additionally, this review includes findings from twin, family, and
genetic association studies. The key findings of these studies are compiled and presented as summaries
and in tables.
The review points to significant heritability of health behaviours persisting into middle age.
Approximately half of the variance in these behaviours can be attributed to genetic factors. Of the four
reviewed health behaviours, smoking behaviour and alcohol consumption exhibit higher heritability
compared to dietary patterns and physical activity. Unexpectedly, the influence of shared environment,
such as parental upbringing during childhood, showed minimal impact on behaviours in adulthood.
The findings suggest that the influence of health education received during childhood might diminish
into adulthood. On the other hand, the substantial genetic contribution to health behaviours in adults
fosters empathy towards individuals affected by prevalent public health diseases largely influenced by
one’s behaviour. However, while genetics significantly affect health behaviours, an individual’s
environment also plays a crucial role. This offers hope: While inherited attributes are permanent,
environment, such as residence and social networks, can be actively affected with possible positive
health behaviour consequences.