Genetic Contributions To Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders we think about are, Anorexia Nervosa, and Bulimia Nervosa. Binge Eating Disorder is lesser known however all three can affect males and females (Gray & Zide, 2013). A definition of an eating disorder is an illness that is characterized by irregular eating habits and an obsession with body weight and shape. This leads the person to develop habits surrounding inadequate or excessive food intake. Eating disorders may develop at any age, but typically develops during teen and early adult years. Eating disorders frequently coexist with other disorders such as, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and depression.

Eating disorder is the abnormal eating behavior that would negatively impact one’s health, emotions and ability to function in important areas of life. Eating disorders include several categories: binge eating disorder, which means people eat large amount in a short period, anorexia nervosa which people eat very little, bulimia nervosa which people eat a lot and then try to rid themselves of food, pica which people eat non-food items, rumination disorder means people regurgitate food, avoidant food intake means that people have a lack of interest in food, and other specified eating disorders (ANAD). There is believed to be no single cause for eating disorders, as all the biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors contribute to this illness. Studies have shown that specific chromosomes may be associated with bulimia and anorexia (NY times). Eating disorders may also be caused by imbalance of serotonin and dopamine which explain why people who have anorexia

Disturbances in the levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin appear to be a characteristic of individuals with eating disorders. Kaye 2005 found a reduction in the levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-HIAA in people with eating disorders. This suggests that brain serotonin pathways are underactive. Using PET scans it has been shown that there are fewer serotonin receptors in the brains of those with eating disorders. The brain serotonin system has been implicated in personality traits linked with eating disorders such as

An eating disorder has complex origins. Although most people think that an obsession with weight and appearance leads to this deadly disease, this is merely the surface issue. Along with the ultimate need for control, other causes can be genetic factors, parental influence, behavioral influence, environmental influence, and biochemistry. Many studies have found that eating disorders run in families. Almost always, it is the closely related females in the family who are affected. Some researchers believe that negative parental influence can come from both the maternal and paternal sides. Mothers often comment on their daughters' appearance, whether on their physical shape or on their ability to dress well. So often simple motherly love turns into a psychological desire for their daughters to be what they were not. Studies have found that these

The things that are contributing greatly to the increase of eating disorders is the media. Many teenagers grow up being influenced by magazines, movies, and models and they think that the only way that society will accept them is if they look exactly like those people. They have the fear of becoming fat and being bullied. These kids are genuinely scared to grow up and have to face body changes. there is also the other part of these disorders. Not all people who have an eating disorder are skinny. There are also those who eat because they are stressed or have a low self esteem. They are influenced by their parents. So that means that if their parents have the habit of always eating or not eating, the children will pick up those same customs. Sometimes there are kids who are physically or sexually abused and that causes them to look for comfort in food or just decide to not eat properly.

Some of the symptoms that will often show that a person is suffering from some form of eating disorder include:

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are a few of the most common disorders struggled with today. Anorexia Nervosa is a condition of the intense fear to gain weight, which results in consistent lack of eating. Bulimia Nervosa, involves frequent episodes of binge eating followed by throwing up because of fear of gaining weight. The mortality rate for anorexia is the highest of all mental disorders yet the genetic factors relating them were not a huge concern to look into. It is easy to think that Anorexia and Bulimia are mentality induced only, but there are indeed genetic factors related despite how small the evidence may be. Personality disorders are heritable, and are commonly developed after an eating disorder or a large reason someone develops one. The study of serotonin, a compound found in Bulimia, Anorexia and depression, can be passed down through genes and they play a small part in eating disorders worth acknowledging. Inheriting genes that make an individual athletic naturally can affect the chances of eating disorder. There is no evidence that one particular gene could cause an eating disorder, but there are various traits and levels of compounds that when inherited, increase the likelihood of developing one.

Research also suggests that genes may be involved in binge eating, since the disorder often occurs in several members of the same family.

Genes that have been identified to contribute to eating disorders are associated with specific personality traits. These aspects of personality are thought to be inheritable and exist before the eating disorder and can persist after recovery. Traits such as perfectionism, sensitivity, and impulsivity are common among people who develop eating disorders. Because these traits are inherited, is it possible one’s qualities are the cause of the disease? V. M. Quick & C. Byrd-Bredbenner mention in the article, “Disturbed eating behaviors and associated psychographic characteristics of college students” state that “Poor psychological well-being also is common among individuals with disturbed eating practices. For example, as depression and anxiety severity increase, so do disturbed eating practices, such as dietary restraint and disinhibited eating” (1). Females are known to have these traits and are more susceptible to disorders but this does not mean a male is any less likely to have an eating disorder. Welch, Elisabeth, Ata Ghader, and Ingemar Swenne state in the article, “A Comparison Of Clinical Characteristics Between Adolescent Males And Females With Eating Disorders” that “Eating disorders have traditionally been thought to affect mainly females. As recently as four decades ago there was a debate as to whether or not males could have eating disorders at all, especially anorexia. Although there is a consensus today that ED do not dis- criminate between genders, there are different opinions as to how common eating disorders are among males. However irrational, an eating disorder provides a goal and sense of identity, achievement, and power to those with these

Causes of eating disorders can include genetic, biological, social, psychological, and environmental factors (Schiff, 2016). If a person has a first-degree relative with anorexia, that person is ten times more likely to develop anorexia than a person who does not have a first-degree relative with

Many factors contribute to the onset of anorexia. Researchers estimate the influence of genetic factors in anorexia to be between 33 to 84%.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are one of the most common eating disorders that are characterized by persistence of disturbance in eating behavior according to the DSM-5 (APA, 2013; Butcher, Hooley, & Mineka ,2013). Nonetheless, this disorder also can be linked to factors associated with culture, society and genetics, as it overlaps with mental illness.

In addition to the environment being an influence on individuals developing an eating disorder, eating disorders also have biological causes. According to Weir (2016), an important feature of the disorders is the faulty reward processing system. The process guides the eating behaviors. The

An eating disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight or shape (Mayo). These mental illnesses can cause serious problems in a person’s everyday diet (Mandal). People with anorexia nervosa refuse to eat, so they generally use different methods to limit their calorie intake to lose weight. Some methods include excessive exercise, using laxatives, or vomiting after eating. Bulimia nervosa is another type of eating disorder, characterized by binge eating, consuming large amounts of food, followed by purging through vomiting or the use of laxatives (page 259). People with this disorder eat a lot then afterwards they try to get rid of what

Though eating disorders are inextricably linked to genetics, the environment also largely determines them. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and most recently Binge eating are three central types of eating disorders cited in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Eating Disorders (DSM-5, 2015). The prevalence of eating disorders is fundamentally a result of Western cultures construction of thinness as an ideal form of beauty. Eating disorders are often discounted as a myth of white privilege. Those in developing countries suffer from malnourishment; so the notion that people willingly restrict their diet is inconceivable to them. However, developing an eating disorder is simply one way of dealing with an issue (actually avoiding) that may