A better understanding of the emerging link between familial alcoholism and obesity requires further examination of this association in recently ascertained, high-quality, general population samples, or carefully designed case-control samples. A more complete psychiatric characterization of subjects in such samples could also help refine the pathways through which this association occurs. In addition, it would be desirable to identify specific eating behaviors and psychological characteristics that mediate the link between familial-alcoholism and obesity. These might include general dietary patterns; preferences for short-term rewards over delayed gratification; 45, 46 preferences for highly rewarding sweet, salty or fatty foods; 37, 38 18 and binge eating behaviors.47–49 To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the association between family history of alcohol problems and BMI, and moreover, to study repeated cross-sections of the United States population to examine recent secular trends. Gearhardt and Corbin50 have noted an association between family history of alcohol problems and BMI in the NESARC, but in the context of understanding drinking behavior in relation to obesity. Barry and Petry51 noted an association between lifetime alcohol use
