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Digit ratio (2D:4D) and body mass index in the BBC Internet Study: prenatal sex steroids and a Trivers–Willard effect on body composition
,
Laura Mason ,
R. Trivers
Journal of Biosocial Science, Volume: 54, Issue: 5, Pages: 902 - 911
Swansea University Authors:
John Manning, Laura Mason
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DOI (Published version): 10.1017/s0021932021000390
Abstract
Digit ratio – a putative measure of prenatal sex steroids – may be related to body mass index (BMI). However, reports of correlations between 2D:4D and BMI have yielded mixed results with some studies showing no relationship while others have reported positive associations in men or women only. This...
| Published in: | Journal of Biosocial Science |
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| ISSN: | 0021-9320 1469-7599 |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2022
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57551 |
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| Abstract: |
Digit ratio – a putative measure of prenatal sex steroids – may be related to body mass index (BMI). However, reports of correlations between 2D:4D and BMI have yielded mixed results with some studies showing no relationship while others have reported positive associations in men or women only. This study considers associations between self-reported 2D:4D and BMI in a large online survey (i.e. the BBC Internet Study). At the individual level, there was a weak positive association between 2D:4D and BMI in both sexes with greater effect sizes in women. Body mass index was positively related to age and negatively related to parental income; however, the relationship between 2D:4D and BMI was independent of both variables. At the national level, mean 2D:4D per country showed positive associations with mean national BMI but those correlations were restricted to females. It is concluded that BMI is positively related to low prenatal testosterone and high prenatal oestrogen. Parental income inequality may influence both prenatal sex steroids (through a ‘Trivers–Willard’ effect) and BMI such that increases in inequality result in reductions in prenatal testosterone and increases in BMI at the individual and national level. |
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| Keywords: |
Digit ratio; Body mass index; Obesity |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial entity, or not-for-profit organization. |
| Issue: |
5 |
| Start Page: |
902 |
| End Page: |
911 |