Using Twins in Studies of Environmental Exposures, Behaviors, and Health Glen E. Duncan, PhD, RCEP SM University of Washington, Department of Epidemiology, Nutritional Sciences Program, Director UW Twin Registry NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

UW Twin Registry Website Facebook Twitter NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Overview of Duncan Research Program NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Ecological Framework NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Obesogenic Environment An environment that promotes excess energy intake and reduced energy expenditure NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Ecological Framework NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Does the neighborhood environment influence your health? The selection problem, the reverse causation problem, and the measurement problem Duncan et al. Health Place 2014; 27: NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Use of Twins in Environment Based Research Observed associations between an uncontrolled risk factor, such as environmental walkability, and health outcomes, such as physical activity and BMI, may result from a causal relationship between them or from uncontrolled confounds related to family upbringing along genetic or environmental pathways. Duncan et al. Health Place 2014; 27: NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

TWINStudy of Environment, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Health (PAT) Exploring role of built and social environments in supporting healthy lifestyles Identical twins living apart but in defined boundaries of the Puget Sound Data about activity and eating episodes collected “wherever” for 2 weeks About 120 pairs have completed study to date NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Personal Air and Noise Exposures Validation, feasibility, and usability of PUWPM (R21) Clinical (blood pressure) and biological (inflammation) measures in 150 MZ twins; associations with personal exposure to PM2.5 and noise (R33) NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Activity Space NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Spatial Epidemiology Methods Hurvitz et al. Front Public Health 2014; 2:2 NSP 2015 – G. Duncan

Recent Student Topics Enriquez et al. Age at dieting onset, body mass index, and dieting practices: A twin study. Appetite 2013; 71: Cohen-Cline H et al. Access to green space, physical activity, and mental health: A twin study. J Epidemiol Comm Health; In press. Lau et al. Associations between fast-food consumption and body mass index: A cross-sectional study in adult twins. Twin Res Human Genet; Under Peer Review. Hwang et al. Cross sectional association between objectively measured walking bouts and neighborhood walkability. Geospatial Health; Under Peer Review. Eney et al. Soda consumption and body mass index in adult twins. (In Progress) NSP 2015 – G. Duncan