Causal attributions of obese men and women in genetic testing: Implications of genetic/biological attributions1 |
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Authors: | Anja Hilbert Jan-Michael Dierk Matthias Conradt Pia Schlumberger Anke Hinney Johannes Hebebrand |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapy , Philipps University of Marburg , Marburg, Germany hilbert@staff.uni-marburg.de;3. Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapy , Philipps University of Marburg , Marburg, Germany;4. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rheinische Kliniken Essen , University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen, Germany |
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Abstract: | The present study sought to investigate genetic/biological attributions of obesity, their associations with a predisposition to obesity and their crossectional and longitudinal implications for weight regulation in obese individuals presenting for genetic testing and counselling. A total of 421 obese men and women underwent psychological and anthropometric assessment and a mutation screen of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene. At study entry, women revealed more genetic/biological attributions than men on the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire adapted to obesity (86.2% versus 59.7%). Genetic/biological attributions of obesity were associated in both sexes with a family history of obesity, assessed through Stunkard's Figure Rating Scale. In both sexes, genetic/biological attributions were unrelated to weight regulation beliefs and behaviour (i.e. self-efficacy, controllability beliefs, restrained eating and physical activity), assessed through standardised questionnaires or interview at baseline and at six-month follow-up. In addition, causal attributions and weight regulation beliefs and behaviour were not predictive of body mass index at six-month follow-up. Overall, the results indicate that causal attributions of obesity to genetic/biological factors in obese individuals presenting for genetic screening and counselling are crossectionally and longitudinally unrelated to weight regulation and longer-term weight outcome. Those who attribute their obesity to genetic/biological factors likely have a familial obesity risk. |
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Keywords: | causal attributions weight regulation behaviour self-efficacy familial obesity risk obesity |
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