ABSTRACT
The study of the role of genetic variation on energy intake and nutrient intake is broad and has considerable public health implications. Genetic differences influence behavioral and biological affectors of food intake. They are also thought to impact on several nutritionally influenced risk factors (e.g., dyslipoproteinemia) and morbid conditions (e.g., diabetes). These issues have been the topic of much research in the past few decades, as evidenced by the multiple review articles cited in this section. In the behavioral domain, the questions are relatively simple. Do genes determine eating behaviors such as how much one eats, preferences for certain types of foods, and frequency or pattern of eating? The current research suggests that there is resemblance among family members for these behaviors, although it is unclear if they are determined by genes, shared environments, or both.
