Geneticists Shed Light on the True Causes of Anorexia
Genomic research: anorexia is a hybrid disorder linked not only to psychology but also to metabolism and physical activity genes.
Genomic research: anorexia is a hybrid disorder linked not only to psychology but also to metabolism and physical activity genes.
Anorexia is commonly believed to fall solely within the field of mental health problems. However, recent studies by the University of North Carolina and King's College London also point to the role of metabolic disorders. Until recently, metabolic disturbances were considered a consequence rather than a cause of anorexia. Genomic research has prompted a fresh look at the condition.
As part of the study, about 17,000 people with this disorder and more than 55,500 healthy individuals were examined, and eight genetic variants linked to anorexia nervosa were identified. It turned out that anorexia genes overlap with other mental disorders (obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia).
It was also established that people with anorexia tend toward high physical activity driven by their genes. There is a clear connection between anorexia and metabolic processes as a cause of the disorder. According to scientists, anorexia is a hybrid disease. Therefore, treatment requires a comprehensive approach.
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