Atypical Eating Disinhibition Genotype

This study identified the frequency of 6 eating behavior genotypes in overweight (body mass index 25-29.9kg/m2) versus obese (body mass index ≥ 30kg/m2) patients. Using a quantitative retrospective design, participant characteristics and genotypes of 6 genes and their associated eating behavior traits were extracted from 698 electronic medical records of patients from 3 medical weight loss clinics. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Obese patients (n = 582) in this sample were significantly more likely to have the atypical eating disinhibition genotype versus overweight patients (n = 116) (P < .001). Nurse practitioners working with obese patients should consider genetic testing as part of obesity prevention.