Do bulimia and anorexia tend to be hereditary diseases?

Do bulimia and anorexia tend to be hereditary diseases?

When a family member suffers from either bulimia or anorexia, a fairly important question that may come to that person's mind is whether the same disorder will one day affect their children. Although there are no solid reasons why someone may or may not suffer from an eating disorder; Research suggests that genetics actually plays a role in determining who is at risk.

What the research says –is that if a family member already has one (or is suffering from one), studies show that there are certain genetic factors that play a role in determining whether another family member is at risk of developing an eating disorder. For example:

1.It is estimated that 10% of all bulimia and anorexic sufferers have a family member who already suffers from one of the disorders.

2.Children are 10% more likely to have an eating disorder if another family member already has an eating disorder.

3.Genetic factors are responsible for 58% to 76% of all cases of anorexia nervosa.

4.Around 6% of anorexics tend to have a sister who suffers from the same disorder.

5.The likelihood of suffering from bulimia is four times higher if a relative in the same family suffers from it.

6.If an identical twin suffers from an eating disorder, the likelihood that the other twin suffers from the same disorder is significantly increased.

The reasons for these facts are:

(a)A variant of the gene for serotonin receptors (influence on neurological processes such as anxiety, depression, mood and cognition, etc.) is shared in families with a history of eating disorders.

(b)The same genetic factors that make a person susceptible to personality disorders, substance abuse, and previously mentioned neurological processes also make a person more susceptible to eating disorders.

(c)Children who grow up with family members who have negative attitudes toward food and eating in general are at significantly higher risk of suffering from an eating disorder than children who grow up with family members who have more positive attitudes toward food and eating.

Other risk factors for developing an eating disorder may include: low status, emotional disorders (anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], etc.), perfectionistic personalities, impulsive or obsessive personality traits (distinctive characteristics or qualities, especially of one's own nature), professions where weight can affect performance (actors/actresses, dancers, gymnasts, models, etc.) and where there is a history of sexual abuse.

Conclusion -Although there is no 100% clear evidence that either bulimia or anorexia are hereditary, certain studies indicate a strong connection between the two. Where there is a family history of eating disorders; There is a strong possibility that other members of the same family will also have one at some point during their lives (more often at a younger age).

Inspired by Philip A Edmonds-Hunt