Anorexia Nervosa: A Highly Heritable Disease?

1
Anorexia Nervosa A Highly Heritable Disease?
2
Many people believe eating disorders such as
anorexia nervosa are mainly due to modern
celebrity and fashion culture, which idealizes
impossibly thin models and surgically enhanced
stars. But new research indicates that genetic
factors may strongly influence who develops
eating disorders. Understanding that anorexia may
be a highly heritable disease, combined with
psychosocial factors, is crucial to future
prevention, treatment and recovery.
3
Anorexia nervosa is a very serious and complex
disease characterized by restriction of energy to
the point of significantly low body, pathological
eating, over-evaluation of weight and shape, and
fear of becoming fat. In todays society, there
are still many misconceptions surrounding the
origins of anorexia, which is one of the major
diseases associated with death in women and men.
Most people believe that the cause of anorexia
can be attributed to socio-cultural factors such
as the effects of mass media, unrealistic beauty
ideals and parental upbringing. But studies now
show that the disease is not determined by these
outside factors aloneanorexia is a highly
heritable disease that requires an understanding
of both the genetic and social factors in order
to treat it effectively.
4
What This Means for Anorexia Nervosa Prevention
and Recovery Studies involving twins and family
members show genetic factors contribute to a
predisposition for anorexia and other eating
disorders. Research findings show that those with
anorexia are born with certain genetic traits
that put them at higher-risk for developing the
disease. Why is this important? First, we can
finally put to rest the enormous stigma many
families have faced surrounding anorexia nervosa
as well as other eating disorders. According
to Dr. Mark Gold, renowned addiction and eating
disorders expert, not having knowledge of the
genetic component of the disease has contributed
to a lot of pain and confusion for many families,
5
Over the past 30 years, psychological pedagogy
has strongly asserted that psychological and
non-genetic familial and emotional stressors were
primary causative factors of anorexia nervosa.
Yet to date, psychotherapeutic treatment outcomes
for anorexia nervosa are poor at best. As a
result, families suffer unnecessarily from
overwhelming fear, guilt, and sadness, while
hoping beyond hope, that the next doctor or the
next new treatment program might save their child
and restore a modicum of peace from this
insidious disease, says Dr. Gold, chairman of
RiverMend Healths Scientific Advisory
Board. With research about the genetic component
of anorexia nervosa now underway and relatively
new, awareness and treatment for the disease will
continue to evolve. 
6
Because both genetic and psychosocial factors
play a significant role in the development of
eating disorders, families can move forward with
a new understanding of their loved ones disease.
Rather than feeling like they are to blame,
parents can feel empowered by understanding the
genetic risk factors. Armed with this knowledge,
they may feel better equipped to help their
children establish a healthy body image, instill
healthy eating habits and teach coping skills to
combat the disease. If families know their
children are susceptible to inheriting anorexia,
prevention strategies can be put in place before
the disease manifests at an early age and with
professionally guided intervention.
Content Source https//www.rosewoodranch.com/requ
est-a-consultation/