Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Exercise Behavior during Adolescence
The aim of this study was to investigate the degree to which genetic and environmental influences affect variation in adolescent exercise behavior. Data on regular leisure time exercise activities were analyzed in 8,355 adolescent twins, from three-age cohorts (13-14, 15-16, and 17–19 years). Exerci...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2010-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Pediatrics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/138345 |
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| author | Niels van der Aa Eco J. C. De Geus Toos C. E. M. van Beijsterveldt Dorret I. Boomsma Meike Bartels |
| author_facet | Niels van der Aa Eco J. C. De Geus Toos C. E. M. van Beijsterveldt Dorret I. Boomsma Meike Bartels |
| author_sort | Niels van der Aa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to investigate the degree to which genetic and environmental influences affect variation in adolescent exercise behavior. Data on regular leisure time exercise activities were analyzed in 8,355 adolescent twins, from three-age cohorts (13-14, 15-16, and 17–19 years). Exercise behavior was assessed with survey items about type of regular leisure time exercise, frequency, and duration of the activities. Participants were classified as sedentary, regular exercisers, or vigorous exercisers. The prevalence of moderate exercise behavior declined from age 13 to 19 years with a parallel increase in prevalence of sedentary behavior, whereas the prevalence of vigorous exercise behavior remained constant across age cohorts. Variation in exercise behavior was analyzed with genetic structural equation modeling employing a liability threshold model. Variation was largely accounted for by genetic factors (72% to 85% of the variance was explained by genetic factors), whereas shared environmental factors only accounted for a substantial part of the variation in girls aged 13-14 years (46%). We hypothesize that genetic effects on exercise ability may explain the high heritability of exercise behavior in this phase of life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-169eeaaafca842b38ae5bff3416862a1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9740 1687-9759 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2010-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-169eeaaafca842b38ae5bff3416862a12025-02-03T05:46:54ZengWileyInternational Journal of Pediatrics1687-97401687-97592010-01-01201010.1155/2010/138345138345Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Exercise Behavior during AdolescenceNiels van der Aa0Eco J. C. De Geus1Toos C. E. M. van Beijsterveldt2Dorret I. Boomsma3Meike Bartels4Department of Biological Psychology, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Biological Psychology, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Biological Psychology, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Biological Psychology, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Biological Psychology, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The NetherlandsThe aim of this study was to investigate the degree to which genetic and environmental influences affect variation in adolescent exercise behavior. Data on regular leisure time exercise activities were analyzed in 8,355 adolescent twins, from three-age cohorts (13-14, 15-16, and 17–19 years). Exercise behavior was assessed with survey items about type of regular leisure time exercise, frequency, and duration of the activities. Participants were classified as sedentary, regular exercisers, or vigorous exercisers. The prevalence of moderate exercise behavior declined from age 13 to 19 years with a parallel increase in prevalence of sedentary behavior, whereas the prevalence of vigorous exercise behavior remained constant across age cohorts. Variation in exercise behavior was analyzed with genetic structural equation modeling employing a liability threshold model. Variation was largely accounted for by genetic factors (72% to 85% of the variance was explained by genetic factors), whereas shared environmental factors only accounted for a substantial part of the variation in girls aged 13-14 years (46%). We hypothesize that genetic effects on exercise ability may explain the high heritability of exercise behavior in this phase of life.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/138345 |
| spellingShingle | Niels van der Aa Eco J. C. De Geus Toos C. E. M. van Beijsterveldt Dorret I. Boomsma Meike Bartels Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Exercise Behavior during Adolescence International Journal of Pediatrics |
| title | Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Exercise Behavior during Adolescence |
| title_full | Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Exercise Behavior during Adolescence |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Exercise Behavior during Adolescence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Exercise Behavior during Adolescence |
| title_short | Genetic Influences on Individual Differences in Exercise Behavior during Adolescence |
| title_sort | genetic influences on individual differences in exercise behavior during adolescence |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/138345 |
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