Examine the relationship between eating competence (EC) and polymorphisms of DRD2/ANKK1, a dopamine gene with A1 allele associated with neuropsychological executive function. Baseline measures from a RCT of a nutrition/exercise intervention implemented with pre-menopausal, overweight/obese, central Pennsylvania females meeting behavioral/medical exclusion criteria. Eating behaviors measured with Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), Satter Eating Competence Inventory (ecSI 2.0); BMI, waist circumference (WC), DRD2/ANKK1 allelic expression. Analyses included General Linear Modeling controlling for covariates. Of 65 (mean age 40.6±5.2 y; BMI 31.2±4.4) providing DRD2/ANKK1 data, 60 completed ecSI 2.0 and/or TFEQ; 14% were eating competent (EC), mean ecSI 2.0 score was 26.1 ± 6.1. ecSI 2.0 was not associated with BMI or WC , but significantly inversely correlated with TFEQ cognitive restraint (CR), emotional eating (EE), and uncontrolled eating (all P < 0.05). ANKK1/DRD2 allele distribution was AA-1, AG-25, and GG-39. When controlled for TFEQ-EE, ecSI 2.0 was higher (P = 0.035) in GG (27.4 ±177; 0.9) than AG (24.1 ±177; 1.3). ecSI 2.0 Food Acceptance subscale, which was significantly greater in GG without any controls (P = 0.009) remained significant when controlling for TFEQ-EE (P=.008). ecSI 2.0 contextual skills tended to be greater in GG (P = 0.06), continuing so when controlling for TFEQ-EE (P = 0.07) and significant when controlling for TFEQ-CR(P = 0.047). EC was related to ANKK1/DRD2 polymorphisms; ecSI 2.0 scores were lower for heterozygotes carrying the A1 allele associated with cognitive behaviors interfering with healthful eating. These findings provide support for the design of genetically personalized EC education and suggest further research into the role of dopamine in EC.