N Engl J Med May 1990 PMID 2336075

The body-mass index of twins who have been reared apart.

A J Stunkard, J R Harris, N L Pedersen, G E McClearn

Mentions

99
Peak: 13 in Sep 2019
across 6 sources since Jun 2019

Extended reach

477,601
potential audience

Total likes

3,955

Video views

112,257

Mentions per month

Jun 2019 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

Numerous discussions highlighted specific findings from the study, such as the correlation coefficients for BMI among identical twins raised apart being around 0.70 for men and 0.66 for women. Phrases like 'genetic influences on body-mass index are substantial' illustrate a strong recognition of the research's implications. The tone tends to reflect confidence in scientific data, with participants emphasizing the genetic basis of obesity over environmental factors.

AgreementStrong agreement

The majority of discussions express strong alignment with the study’s conclusions about the genetic influences on BMI.

InterestHigh interest

Participants show high levels of curiosity regarding the implications of the research findings.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many contributors engage deeply with the data and methodologies discussed, reflecting critical analysis.

ImpactHigh impact

The consensus is that this research holds significant implications for understanding obesity and genetic factors.

Abstract in brief

  • The study examined the influence of genetics and environment on body mass index (BMI) by analyzing various pairs of identical and fraternal twins, some raised apart and others raised together.
  • Findings revealed that genetic factors have a strong impact on BMI, with heritability estimates showing high correlation for identical twins, whether raised apart or together, while childhood environment had minimal influence on their BMI later in life.
  • Unique environmental factors, specific to each individual, accounted for about 30% of BMI variance, highlighting the importance of genetics over shared upbringing in determining body weight.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
金森重樹@ダイエットonlineサロン
@ShigekiKanamori · X

【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の親」を見て 仲間と同じ緩いやり方でいいの? 断糖が必要? 食習慣・環境の影響は3割

Sep 9, 2019 · 103 likes · 12 shares · 125,034 followers View post →
stephen o'rahilly (its pronounced O-RA-hill-EEE)
@StephenORahilly · X

Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkard, . The Body-Mass Index of Twins Who Have Been Reared Apart. New England Journal of Medicine 322, 1483–1487.. doi:10.1056/nejm199005243222102/ https://t.co/Nc9M25ZB7x

Aug 4, 2022 · 53 likes · 9 shares · 10,074 followers View post →
Abd Tahrani
@AbdTahrani · X

In a Twins study "The intrapair correlation coefficients of the values for BMI of identical twins reared apart were 0.70 for men and 0.66 for women"..."unique to the individual and not those shared by family... contributing about 30% of the variance⬇️ https://t.co/rnE7t3MlMB

Jun 17, 2021 · 18 likes · 2 shares · 7,577 followers View post →
Coldest Hottest Gay Elf
@FrostFire425 · X

@knicksStan123 @QueerlyAutistic So far, the CDC has identified more than 50 different genes linked to obesity, and there have been multiple studies showing that these genes affect whether or not a human becomes obese, rather than choices in food or exercise Here's a link to one of them https://t.co/XJAWfnWfWc

Oct 23, 2022 · 4 likes · 279 followers View post →
zomeo
@zomeo0 · X

@BEASTMASTERTOAD @BnazF @feyrah https://t.co/6ygGwI4B7j Genetics account for up to 70% of our BMI dude. Consider reading this before you reply

Jun 24, 2019 · 4 likes · 38 followers View post →
GuruAnaerobic
@GuruAnaerobic · X

1/ TWIN STUDIES & OBESITY - What people miss 'We conclude tht genetic influences on BMI are substantial, whereas the childhood environment has little or no influence. These findings corroborate & extend the results of earlier studies of twins & adoptees' https://t.co/Tcpr1bxayW

Aug 21, 2019 · 3 likes · 39,889 followers View post →

All mentions

alex
@gremlin_sh · X

@AfriendYouwont1 @Romy_Holland We have identical twin studies on this implying adult BMI is largely genetic https://t.co/04ySVDH4Gw

Jul 13, 2025 · 2 likes · 57 followers View post →
Fatcoin
@FatCoin_Solana · X

@IrsyadArif1 @HatsNerfi @Patticusss @HumansNoContext https://t.co/UsSGm4QySp You're not arguing with me. You're arguing against every single twin study done on this topic. Weight is more heritable than height.

Jul 7, 2025 · 235 followers View post →
Tak Sonoyama, M.D., Ph.D.
@sonoyamataku · X

@bozu_108 実は肥満の7割は遺伝によって決まる https://t.co/9tFv6nAh8G

Jun 10, 2025 · 3 likes · 4,266 followers View post →
баба зося
@babazosja · X

70% весовой вариативности обеспечивается генами. https://t.co/weDr6TY2R1 https://t.co/qKztxoFqEa

Jun 15, 2024 · 1 like · 292 followers View post →
баба зося
@babazosja · X

@pp4evka @saintxuh @daria_firsova @szeraje_sonejka @hareza_u_kutku Исследование https://t.co/weDr6TXv1t

Jun 15, 2024 · 1 like · 292 followers View post →
Lady Demosthenes
@LadyDemosthenes · X

RT @SomeInfidel: @LadyDemosthenes https://t.co/9mVZ7FKgXc

Jun 4, 2024 · 1 share · 14,057 followers View post →
Jonny Fairways
@Jonny_Fairways · X

@LadyDemosthenes https://t.co/9mVZ7FKgXc

Jun 4, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 257 followers View post →
SouthernJules
@JuliaM63559714 · X

@SpencerKlavan @Cernovich https://t.co/lo7poVpO0H

Jun 4, 2024 · 319 followers View post →
SouthernJules
@JuliaM63559714 · X

@HilldurG @JeremyDBoreing https://t.co/lo7poVpgb9

Jun 4, 2024 · 1 like · 319 followers View post →
SouthernJules
@JuliaM63559714 · X

@JPSinger22 @jinxerfelix @JeremyDBoreing https://t.co/lo7poVpgb9 It's not simple

Jun 4, 2024 · 319 followers View post →
Shahriar
@SugarKoat · X

https://t.co/JCz48o8z4f

Mar 2, 2024 · 6,594 followers View post →
bargdarg
@bargdarg · X

@Papajohnbuddy @UsingLyft There are twin studies on obesity. They show it's genetic https://t.co/teOY0YY7jG

Dec 13, 2023 · 36 followers View post →
fofogigodfogofg
@fofogigodf64842 · X

@Legitimate_Yam @SashaGusevPosts Even body mass index in twins raised apart has a shared environmental impact of zero https://t.co/zznXqJa7TF

Sep 28, 2023 · 3 followers View post →
Sandro Magi
@naasking · X

@Communio13 @Aella_Girl https://t.co/M2mXoPBZkk https://t.co/AYzoE3nWZn https://t.co/DBA1czMbVo There are more, but basically identical twins, even raised apart, end up choosing similar careers, having similar temperaments and even marrying similar wives.

Aug 22, 2023 · 94 followers View post →
Dog Playing Piano
@DogPlayingPiano · X

@cremieuxrecueil Back before the obesity epidemic, twins reared apart had pretty similar weight and intelligence. Whatever one asserts, it has to be consistent with increasing obesity, and obesity of people of similar genetic background in different geographies. https://t.co/Lsjkiwdahp

May 12, 2023 · 2 likes · 806 followers View post →
Joana Alencastro
@JoanaAlencastro · X

@jessicabalbino @JosuDeCastro10 @erickcuzziol @felipeneto Aqui: https://t.co/2g7DT1tdhF

Mar 30, 2023 · 1,912 followers View post →
Mira Torbay
@MiraTorbay · X

@praxi_teles @Snowden And: https://t.co/WsYlryx063 https://t.co/dwMhzJ7Ndn

Feb 28, 2023 · 8 followers View post →
dhogaza
@dhogaza2 · X

@j_t_2390 @StevenJonMiller There are genetic components. Twin study: https://t.co/JxskCXtjeN

Feb 11, 2023 · 38 followers View post →
Melmont Conterson
@MelmontC · X

@CaloriesProper Genes do play a role in obesity. "The intrapair correlation coefficients of the values for body-mass index of identical twins reared apart were 0.70 for men and 0.66 for women." https://t.co/NEcAZ7oRrp

Feb 5, 2023 · 1 like · 22 followers View post →
Melmont Conterson
@MelmontC · X

@robkhenderson There is a genetic component to obesity. Studies on twins reared apart show that genetics explain about 70% of the variation in weight. https://t.co/NEcAZ7oRrp

Feb 5, 2023 · 2 likes · 22 followers View post →
Damian
@namimzz · X

@mindstatex @datepsych https://t.co/thrN5ew7qw

Nov 8, 2022 · 96 followers View post →
Coldest Hottest Gay Elf
@FrostFire425 · X

@knicksStan123 @QueerlyAutistic So far, the CDC has identified more than 50 different genes linked to obesity, and there have been multiple studies showing that these genes affect whether or not a human becomes obese, rather than choices in food or exercise Here's a link to one of them https://t.co/XJAWfnWfWc

Oct 23, 2022 · 4 likes · 279 followers View post →
Harmless Frog
@FrogHarmless · X

@raphaels7 It requires rejecting twin studies, first. https://t.co/50ilqcbihc

Aug 5, 2022 · 501 followers View post →
wong.melenceng
@WongMelenceng · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 5, 2022 · 9 shares · 320 followers View post →
Valentinian's Third Bear
@corbinians_bear · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 5, 2022 · 9 shares · 559 followers View post →
hbd chick
@hbdchick · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 5, 2022 · 9 shares · 15,676 followers View post →
Kevin Mitchell
@WiringTheBrain · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 5, 2022 · 9 shares · 40,315 followers View post →
Alberto Dias Filho
@albertodiasf · X

The Body-Mass Index of Twins Who Have Been Reared Apart | NEJM https://t.co/zanf34SxVE

Aug 4, 2022 · 235 followers View post →
Eugenia Kobylatsky
@eugeniakoby · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 4, 2022 · 9 shares · 76 followers View post →
Mark McCarthy
@markmccarthyoxf · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 4, 2022 · 9 shares · 5,536 followers View post →
Stephan J. Guyenet
@sguyenet · X

@JimJohnsonSci @JohnSpeakman4 @raphaels7 The higher percentages come from compelling study designs, like twins reared apart. It's hard for me to understand how this design is substantially biased. But I acknowledge there is remaining uncertainty. https://t.co/qmE0TboDnP https://t.co/0Zhw1RPRGP https://t.co/UX3c397kqC

Aug 4, 2022 · 2 likes · 49,003 followers View post →
Simon Tombs
@tombssimon · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 4, 2022 · 9 shares · 213 followers View post →
Imran S. Haque (@ihaque@{bsky,genomic}.social)
@ImranSHaque · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 4, 2022 · 9 shares · 2,220 followers View post →
Prof. Conor Magee
@mageefrcs · X

RT @StephenORahilly: Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkar…

Aug 4, 2022 · 9 shares · 1,988 followers View post →
stephen o'rahilly (its pronounced O-RA-hill-EEE)
@StephenORahilly · X

Delightful as it is to hear your personal hunches, I prefer to rely on data from well designed studies such as Stunkard, . The Body-Mass Index of Twins Who Have Been Reared Apart. New England Journal of Medicine 322, 1483–1487.. doi:10.1056/nejm199005243222102/ https://t.co/Nc9M25ZB7x

Aug 4, 2022 · 53 likes · 9 shares · 10,074 followers View post →
Christi ana mary
@Antiquitee · X

The third finding of this study is that neither the shared rearing environment nor correlated environments contributed to variation in the body-mass index. https://t.co/IUe4D149JP

Jul 31, 2022 · 3,685 followers View post →
NoBullshitPhysio
@AlexisMLeveille · X

@Jerry_DurhamPT A couple of those studies used both in the systematic review cited. For obesity, when reared apart is compared to other twins raised together and MZ vs DZ twins, we get 66% to 70% heritability of BMI for instance (others I’ve seen say similar) https://t.co/vnlnzjPoAX

May 1, 2022 · 3,538 followers View post →
Viola (Mask Up or Step Back) Lady
@Viola_Lady1982 · X

@jamieschaf @Leftylockdowns1 Obesity is at least partly genetic. Studies of twins have shown they have similar BMIs even when raised apart. For example https://t.co/cuJOBAmLR6

Feb 21, 2022 · 1 like · 146 followers View post →
Cinephiliac
@SlackerInc · X

@yasisalek @IsaacKLee https://t.co/q7I3cLhr1U "We conclude that genetic influences on body-mass index are substantial, whereas the childhood environment has little or no influence."

Aug 12, 2021 · 245 followers View post →
Leave it to Beaver? Eve Beavers-Fain BSN MPH
@espacetimeNOT · X

RT @AbdTahrani: In a Twins study "The intrapair correlation coefficients of the values for BMI of identical twins reared apart were 0.70 fo…

Jun 18, 2021 · 2 shares · 1,212 followers View post →
Paula WaterGardens
@paulaannev · X

RT @AbdTahrani: In a Twins study "The intrapair correlation coefficients of the values for BMI of identical twins reared apart were 0.70 fo…

Jun 18, 2021 · 2 shares · 17,256 followers View post →
Abd Tahrani
@AbdTahrani · X

In a Twins study "The intrapair correlation coefficients of the values for BMI of identical twins reared apart were 0.70 for men and 0.66 for women"..."unique to the individual and not those shared by family... contributing about 30% of the variance⬇️ https://t.co/rnE7t3MlMB

Jun 17, 2021 · 18 likes · 2 shares · 7,577 followers View post →
_Dimension
@_Dimension · X

@ZubyMusic @arrington Source: https://t.co/qhcC8rSJZ7

Sep 28, 2019 · 27 followers View post →
ペコ@ダイエット
@22nakiusagi · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 152 followers View post →
ちせ
@note86278179 · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 37 followers View post →
みーMiey@AI Evangelist
@diaita1 · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 2,616 followers View post →
マルク
@Uit6aWf12pQH0FJ · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 536 followers View post →
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@hokkoriO · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 270 followers View post →
はいど
@10010001011 · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 320 followers View post →
つのだ あきこ
@akkey_dj · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 153 followers View post →
こーたろー
@WoBizIN · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 2,917 followers View post →
ひよこビタミン
@HMnn2mcDYnD28zD · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 553 followers View post →
LowCarb
@LowCarb40163039 · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 1,395 followers View post →
ブリッツ(痩せなさい…)
@BLITZ07220 · X

RT @ShigekiKanamori: 【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の…

Sep 9, 2019 · 12 shares · 226 followers View post →
金森重樹@ダイエットonlineサロン
@ShigekiKanamori · X

【肥満は環境か遺伝か】 別々の環境で育てられた遺伝子的に同じ一卵性双子研究でBMIに与える遺伝の影響は70% https://t.co/4wuugfr5V4 痩型の親なら糖質制限レベルで痩せる 仲間が痩せてたら仲間じゃなく「自分の親」を見て 仲間と同じ緩いやり方でいいの? 断糖が必要? 食習慣・環境の影響は3割

Sep 9, 2019 · 103 likes · 12 shares · 125,034 followers View post →
GuruAnaerobic
@GuruAnaerobic · X

1/ TWIN STUDIES & OBESITY - What people miss 'We conclude tht genetic influences on BMI are substantial, whereas the childhood environment has little or no influence. These findings corroborate & extend the results of earlier studies of twins & adoptees' https://t.co/Tcpr1bxayW

Aug 21, 2019 · 3 likes · 39,889 followers View post →
zomeo
@zomeo0 · X

@BEASTMASTERTOAD @BnazF @feyrah https://t.co/6ygGwI4B7j Genetics account for up to 70% of our BMI dude. Consider reading this before you reply

Jun 24, 2019 · 4 likes · 38 followers View post →