Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42043331›Full record

ArticleObesity (Silver Spring, Md.)2026

Gene-Environment Interplay Between Residential Walkability and BMI: A Finnish Twin Study.

Zhiyang Wang, Bram Berntzen, Nishit Patel, Stephanie Zellers, Sari Aaltonen, Danielle Dick, Karri Silventoinen, Jeroen Lakerveld, Jaakko Kaprio

Abstract readTwin Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Zhiyang WangInstitute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-3153
Bram BerntzenDepartment of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6559-942X
Nishit PatelDepartment of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Stephanie ZellersInstitute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8927-3483
Sari AaltonenInstitute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2873-4263
Danielle DickDepartment of Psychiatry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1636-893X
Karri SilventoinenHelsinki Institute for Demography and Population Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1759-3079
Jeroen LakerveldDepartment of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8551-6748
Jaakko KaprioInstitute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3716-2455

Funding

Academy of Finland 100499Academy of Finland 118555Academy of Finland 141054Academy of Finland 205585Academy of Finland 263278Academy of Finland 264146Academy of Finland 265240Academy of Finland 308248Academy of Finland 312073Academy of Finland 336823Academy of Finland 352792Horizon Europe research and innovation programme 101080250NIAAA NIH HHS AA-00145NIAAA NIH HHS AA015416NIAAA NIH HHS AA-09203NIAAA NIH HHS AA-12502
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveBMI is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, including features of the obesogenic environment such as walkability. This study investigated the interplay between residential walkability, genetics, and BMI among 4312 individuals from two Finnish twin cohorts (mean age: 43).

methodsResidential walkability was quantified using a composite index including built and natural environmental features.

resultsMultiple linear regression, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, showed that higher walkability was associated with lower BMI (coefficient: -0.02, 95% CI: -0.04, -0.01), but pairwise twin analyses indicated that this association was not independent of genetic and early shared environmental influences. Univariate twin modeling revealed that additive genetic effects accounted for 22% of the variation in walkability when participants were middle-aged. Bivariate moderation twin modeling showed that the additive genetic influence on BMI was significantly stronger among individuals living in areas with average or moderately low residential walkability. The unique environmental component played a larger role among those living in areas with either very low or very high residential walkability.

conclusionsThese findings underscored the complex gene-environment interplay between walkability and BMI. While genetic susceptibility cannot be modified, public health strategies that focus on the obesogenic environment, such as improving walkability, may still help mitigate obesity risk.

Indexed as

Body Mass IndexGene-Environment InteractionNeighborhood CharacteristicsObesityWalkingAdultFemaleFinlandHumansLinear ModelsMaleMiddle AgedResidence CharacteristicsTwins, MonozygoticBMIgenetwinwalkability

Identifiers

PMID42043331
PMCPMC13116020

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