Familial risk for alcohol dependence and developmental changes in BMI: the moderating influence of addiction and obesity genes.

Aim: Familial loading for alcohol dependence (AD) and variation in genes reported to be associated with AD or BMI were tested in a longitudinal study.

Materials & Methods: Growth curve analyses of BMI data collected at approximately yearly intervals and obesity status (BMI > 30) were examined.

Results: High-risk males were found to have higher BMI than low-risk males, beginning at age 15 years (2.0 kg/m(2) difference; p = 0.046), persisting through age 19 years (3.3 kg/m(2) difference; p = 0.005). CHRM2 genotypic variance predicted longitudinal BMI and obesity status. Interactions with risk status and sex were also observed for DRD2 and FTO gene variation.

Conclusion: Variation at loci implicated in addiction may be influential in determining susceptibility to increased BMI in childhood and adolescence.