Tag: Heritability

Research indicates that the heritability of body weight is estimated to be between 40% and 70%. This growing body of evidence suggests that for some individuals, the answer to the question, "Can being skinny be a genetic thing?", is a resounding yes.

Estimates from multiple studies suggest the heritability of obesity ranges from 40% to 70%. This does not mean genetics is the sole determinant, but rather that a significant portion of the population's variation in body mass is attributable to inherited differences. Understanding what is the genetic heritability of obesity requires examining the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors.

First identified in 2012 and isolated from the stool of a healthy Japanese male, the commensal bacterium *Christensenella minuta* has its primary source in the human gut microbiome. This microbe, which is part of the Christensenellaceae family, has garnered significant interest as a potential next-generation probiotic due to its association with a healthy, lean host phenotype.

According to a recent twin study, the tendency toward picky eating is strongly influenced by genetics, with heritability estimates ranging from 60% in toddlers to over 80% by adolescence. This discovery offers relief to parents and shifts the narrative on whether picky eating is linked to genetics or environmental factors.