Eating Disorders Lucia Marchetto

Background Information: Eating disorders are a group of conditions that cause the individual to be so preoccupied with food and their weight, they can barley focus on anything else. Common eating disorders are bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating. Most suffers are women, but eating disorders can be present in men. Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S. 86% of students report onset of eating disorder by age 20; 43% report onset between ages of 16 and % of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.

Causes: There are many different factors that can lead to an eating disorder (social, physiological, biological). It’s the genetic factors that interest me the most. Studies show that identical twins have a greater chance of having an eating disorder than fraternal twins. Identical twins are more genetically similar than fraternal, supporting that eating disorders have an inherited component.

Causes: Neurochemistry The neurotransmitters neuroepinephrine and serotonin are greatly diminished in those who suffer from anorexia and bulimia. These neurotransmitters are the same ones who act abnormally in people who suffer with depression. This leads researchers to believe that there is a correlation between depression and eating disorders. Serotonin is also responsible for feeling full after eating. The hormones cortisol and vasopressin have been observed at elevated levels in individuals with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia. Both cortisol and vasopressin are released in response to emotional and physical stresses. Raised levels of these hormones may be factors of people suffering with eating disorders. Other research has indicated that individuals with bulimia and anorexia have heightened levels of the brain chemicals peptide- YY and neuropeptide-Y. Tests of laboratory animals have indicated that these chemicals can stimulate eating behavior.

Causes: Neurochemistry It seems that a lot could go wrong in someone’s brain causing them to suffer from an eating disorder. Neurotransmitters and hormones play an important role in functioning normally so people do not have eating disorders.

Treatment: Diminished serotonin: antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They block the reuptake of serotonin in the brain. Changing the balance seems to help brain cells send and receive chemical messages boosts mood. Elevated cortisol and vasopression levels: Can be lowered by minimizing daily tasks, meditation, exercise, spending time with loved ones, or prescription medication. For genetic causes of eating disorders, it seems that medication is the only way to fix it. Therapies seem to only work if its more of a social issue.