Since the 1970s when anorexia nervosa was first brought to the public eye, most people believed it was a social disease caused by pressure to be thin coupled with depression or anxiety. But genetic research over the past several years shows that genes might play as big a role as the environment in the development of an eating disorder.
Up to 3.7 percent of females suffer from anorexia at some point during their lifetime. It's estimated that up to 1 percent of females in the United States have anorexia, and more than 90 percent of those diagnosed are young. Anorexia's fatality rate can reach 15 percent, the highest of any psychological disorder.
The researchers say that while more work must be done, there's enough evidence at this point to prove some genetic basis exists for developing an eating disorder, even if they aren't sure exactly which genes are responsible. Even more likely, a combination of these genetic traits and environmental factors might cause a propensity for an eating disorder.
The researchers examined sequences of genes in patients( suffering from anorexia), patients' family members who also had eating disorders and a control group of family members who did not have eating disorders, looking for small differences between the genes in each group. The researchers looked at 192 patients who had at least one other member of their family who also had an eating disorder. Differences in two out of the three genes among the groups indicated a significant familial link to anorexia.
Researchers suspect that genes associated with anorexia also might be connected to obsessive behavior and perfectionism.
"I think (families) would feel less guilty, and they would not blame themselves," Athas said. "It would change the whole dynamic of eating disorders and its causes and evolution within a family."
Could Anorexia and other eating disorders be linked to genes?
Does the media have any impact on those likely to suffer from anorexia?
Information from: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2003/05/58818
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4 comments:
Hmph, sounds to me like another case of trying to take the blame off the individual.
The fact that anorexia:
- affects people on and off, usually during their younger years when the desire to be beautiful still has a strong hold on them
- affects females, who have a far higher standard of beauty and have more advertising body image wise targeted at them, more than males
- CAN BE WORKED THROUGH PSYCHOLOGICALLY
all seem to ring bells for nurture rather than nature for me.
The fact that parents are likely to "pass on" anorexia to their children means nothing - they could easily have picked up the eating habits and patterns from their parents.
Cameron
10H
Yes, I believe that genetics can play their role in developing anorexia within a person. However I have to argue that nuture plays a more domiminant role in anorexia in the world today. The media advertises the "norm" by which everyone abides by. They display "ideal" body image that is most appealing. People then think that if they do not meet this norm then, they willl not be accepted through society. Therefore a person will diet and develop anorexia through media influence (nature). Also if we think practically then we can logically deduce that most people would develop anorexia rather than have been born with it genetically. Evidence og this can be seen in society today where we live in a more body conscious and materialistic society.
sagar 10F!!!!!!!!!1
I don’t no whether anorexia could be linked to genes or not. I can see that if you have a parent who was or is anorexic then their ways of thinking and eating could rub off on u, but I don’t know if I believe that anorexia could be passed down from generation through genes. I think that mostly anorexia is brought on by learning the thoughts of others through either people you know or off the TV.
Elspeth
I believe that eating disorders are linked to genes although my argument is still that nurture influences the nature. if treated properly, the nature of the disorder could not display its charactesistics. But with anything, if neglected, could cause serious harm. The generic link can be present for a disorder due to heridetery genes although it is based upon nurture as to whether it is influenced to surface due to the social environment or if it is prevented due to medical reasons as well.
Media is a major impact on anorexia due to the societal views that the media presents of the ideal body image. Every one has a different build although the media fails to mention this due to an advertising scheme. The media influences anorexia due to the 'photoshopped' and 'edited' bodie's that are presented which are amazingly unreal but somehow believable. this influences body image which leads to self esteem breakdown (which are nurture factors) and thus leading to the outcome of a disorder such as anorexia.
Alka 10J
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