The Contribution of Genetics to Anorexia Nervosa

Introduction

A trait to be qualified as hereditary it should be able to pass from parent to offspring. Genetics, the study of genes, can determine if a disorder is hereditary or not. Anorexia Nervosa is a common disorder about one’s perspective of their body weight and shape. Moreover, a person that is diagnosed with Anorexia can have loss of appetite, depression, anxiety, and numerous other effects. Our society today, increases the widespread thinking of having a “perfect body” in people with or even without the disorder. Even though the media influencers would use applications or technological advances like Photoshop to have a flawless look. By doing so, these influencers are increasing the viewer’s risk of acquiring the illness. A high percentage of the chance of acquiring the sickness is contributed by the genetic components, which shows the important role of genes. A person who has a family member with the gene may affect over 11 times the risk of generating the disorder themselves.

Many organizations and foundations, such as The Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative (ANGI), are studying treatments and learning the biology of the sickness constructed from gene information (2018). Scientists and researchers are experimenting an Epigenetics, a process caused from environmental effects that can change the gene order that impacts the development. In like manner, researchers are studying the symptoms, causes, results, medication, and various essentials to help one’s case. Having this type of illness is not a lifestyle decision, wanting attention, or maintaining a bad diet; eating disorders are a serious sickness that should be treated because they interfere with a person’s life day to day in many forms.

What are the symptoms, causes, and results of acquiring the gene?

Extreme dieting is unhealthy for all ages, teenagers and adolescence. A person that is diagnosed with the illness can give off a negative effect if their diets contributed to limited foods. The diet can stimulate dangerous obsessions about the shape and size of their bodies. The person would be impacted by the food restriction and it will make them have reinforced feelings of shame and guilt. It was claimed that this disorder is divided into two divisions, Binge Purge Type and Restricting type. So, their perspective towards food would change leading up to bingeing, immense amount of exercise, and purging- this case is called Binge Purge Type. However, some people would fear to obtain food even if they are hungry just because they are terrified they would gain weight-this case is called Restricting Type. According to National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Association of Disorders (ANAD), about 33% to 50% of patients have a comorbid disorder, which is presence of two diseases (2019). Usually these patients’ disorder are severe depression and anxiety, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some symptoms that can convey one of having the sickness is being underweight, having weak nails, damaged skin, thin hair, weak muscles, pale complexion, irregular menstruation, checking weight scale often, frequently vomiting, dehydration, fainting and dizziness, and many more others. There are several different clinics that can treat this type of disorder depending on the patient’s needs consisting of psychological, medical, and nutritional help.

Anorexia Nervosa can be caused by various reasons: role of the culture, body dissatisfaction, and high levels of stress, mental health issues, and low self-esteem are just a small fraction of reasons that can trigger the sickness. In our society today, the picture of a “perfect body” attracts people’s attention; everyone would look up to influencers and try to fit in with the crowd. A huge percentage of people that have Anorexia would have other mental issues that also might not necessarily be related to food and exercise. These other issues are going to hold on to the patient’s characteristics even after recovery, which implies to the disorders’ development that can contribute to the trait disturbances. Moreover, researchers found out that relatives with Anorexia may be genetic.

What are the medication needed to cure the illness?

Medications vary forms and types. Therapy, nutrition, medical care, and some other methods are presented to patients. However, studies show that over 20% of people acquiring the gene, don't get immediate help or get treated even after medical advice given by doctors because the patient would deny having developed the sickness. These people would deny because they would have mental and physical conflicting and confusing signals. Unfortunately, if patients do not get treated they may increase the risk of their health and 10% to 20% of them may die. In contrast, if treated, less than 2% to 3% of the patients would pass away; these statistics show how efficient and effective the medication is. Scientist realized throughout the years that Anorexia is more of a brain-based disorder than a physical sickness. Furthermore, more than half of the patients would continue life regularly after recovery free from any conflicting thoughts about their weight. Also, 20% would maintain jobs but would have a partial recovery, meaning that they would remain focused on their nutrition. The last 20% are still underweight, would still attend programs and hospital units for frequent check-ups.

How is the sickness a psychological problem?

Throughout the years of discovering Anorexia Nervosa, scientists still cannot pinpoint exactly the one main cause of the illness. However, there are a multiple reasons than can result in the sickness. Many factors also contribute to acquiring the gene such as physiological, psychological, and social factors than may highly lead one’s self to developing the disorder. Moreover, the disorder needs to be treated; scientist predicted theoretically the stages the patient might go through after recovery. Doctors classified the divisions to 6 stages: Pre-contemplation, contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and Relapse; the last stage, Relapse, may not occur to every individual but its normal. Each of the stages have a number of important ideas to help the patients handle the changes in their behavior slowly heal. It is also important for the patient to know that there is hope in change, that recovery is for everyone, and that everyone is different. Furthermore, every patient is different, some may take longer time to recover than others. Family’s support play a very important role to a member that diagnosed with Anorexia. Many researchers and organization, such as The Academy of Eating Disorders (AED), claimed that the role of family gives a positive effect to the member acquiring the illness, especially in the process of recovery.

How is Anorexia hereditary?

Anorexia Nervosa is a severe disorder that should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, the gene in recent generations is increasing and spreading tremendously all around the world. Approximately in every group of 10 people 6 may have the gene; moreover about 85% of the patients acquiring the gene are female. Meaning that, the Anorexic gene is found in both genders, however, two and a half more times more likely to be acquired by women; the percentage of all patients is around 10% males acquiring the illness disease of all people. Most of the people who are diagnosed are from the ages of 10 to 25 years old; however, it is not unheard of and rare for a person to be diagnosed at the age of 10 and younger, or even 40 and older. Also, this disorder is known to have the highest mortality rate. The country that has the Anorexic gene on most of its population is Australia then is followed by France and the Netherlands.

Do genes contribute with Anorexia?

Anorexia Nervosa had been claimed by researchers to be a familial and twin studies, which stated that it may be a genetic-causing disorder. The symptoms of the sickness or personality traits of the person may also present heritable factors that may cause other family members to have Anorexia. The traits that have a contribution to the disorder are: emotional instability, hypersensitivity, and obsessive thinking. Recently, an organization called Genomewide Association Studies (GWAS) found a strong method that can help in discovering the increase of the probability factor of acquiring mutated genes in complex diseases and disorders (2017). Moreover, a medical center in the University of Texas found that a family with a member that is Anorexic can lead to having a mutation in genes which will risk having 85% to 90% chance of other members to acquire the gene. In contrast, scientists also found out that a person having two gene alters will result in having a longer time to make the symptoms appear in a person’s life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder that may cause death; moreover, it should be handled seriously. As maintained by the National Institute of Health, eating disorders are expanding due to the increase of patients, which led into making these genes run in families. Investigators today are developing and advancing the search for networks to help them explain the missing information to exactly pinpoint the causes done by genes. Also, researchers are using technology to have further ideas into the disorders in search for genes that may result in Anorexia. By doing so, they would resolve the problem by answering significant questions. Furthermore, answering these questions may illuminate researchers to understand the cause of other disorders too. Using technological advancements can aid to clinical management and assist the evolution in mental illness. Pathophysiology, explains about the development resulting from a condition, the outcomes could interpret principle features of the results of a disease such as energy balance, anxiety disorder, mood disorder. The discovery gave an idea to investigators an important correlation from the illness to the genes in the genetic composition. As what Audre Lorde said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

Introduction

A trait to be qualified as hereditary it should be able to pass from parent to offspring. Genetics, the study of genes, can determine if a disorder is hereditary or not. Anorexia Nervosa is a common disorder about one’s perspective of their body weight and shape. Moreover, a person that is diagnosed with Anorexia can have loss of appetite, depression, anxiety, and numerous other effects. Our society today, increases the widespread thinking of having a “perfect body” in people with or even without the disorder. Even though the media influencers would use applications or technological advances like Photoshop to have a flawless look. By doing so, these influencers are increasing the viewer’s risk of acquiring the illness. A high percentage of the chance of acquiring the sickness is contributed by the genetic components, which shows the important role of genes. A person who has a family member with the gene may affect over 11 times the risk of generating the disorder themselves.

Many organizations and foundations, such as The Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative (ANGI), are studying treatments and learning the biology of the sickness constructed from gene information (2018). Scientists and researchers are experimenting an Epigenetics, a process caused from environmental effects that can change the gene order that impacts the development. In like manner, researchers are studying the symptoms, causes, results, medication, and various essentials to help one’s case. Having this type of illness is not a lifestyle decision, wanting attention, or maintaining a bad diet; eating disorders are a serious sickness that should be treated because they interfere with a person’s life day to day in many forms.

What are the symptoms, causes, and results of acquiring the gene?

Extreme dieting is unhealthy for all ages, teenagers and adolescence. A person that is diagnosed with the illness can give off a negative effect if their diets contributed to limited foods. The diet can stimulate dangerous obsessions about the shape and size of their bodies. The person would be impacted by the food restriction and it will make them have reinforced feelings of shame and guilt. It was claimed that this disorder is divided into two divisions, Binge Purge Type and Restricting type. So, their perspective towards food would change leading up to bingeing, immense amount of exercise, and purging- this case is called Binge Purge Type. However, some people would fear to obtain food even if they are hungry just because they are terrified they would gain weight-this case is called Restricting Type. According to National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Association of Disorders (ANAD), about 33% to 50% of patients have a comorbid disorder, which is presence of two diseases (2019). Usually these patients’ disorder are severe depression and anxiety, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some symptoms that can convey one of having the sickness is being underweight, having weak nails, damaged skin, thin hair, weak muscles, pale complexion, irregular menstruation, checking weight scale often, frequently vomiting, dehydration, fainting and dizziness, and many more others. There are several different clinics that can treat this type of disorder depending on the patient’s needs consisting of psychological, medical, and nutritional help.

Anorexia Nervosa can be caused by various reasons: role of the culture, body dissatisfaction, and high levels of stress, mental health issues, and low self-esteem are just a small fraction of reasons that can trigger the sickness. In our society today, the picture of a “perfect body” attracts people’s attention; everyone would look up to influencers and try to fit in with the crowd. A huge percentage of people that have Anorexia would have other mental issues that also might not necessarily be related to food and exercise. These other issues are going to hold on to the patient’s characteristics even after recovery, which implies to the disorders’ development that can contribute to the trait disturbances. Moreover, researchers found out that relatives with Anorexia may be genetic.

What are the medication needed to cure the illness?

Medications vary forms and types. Therapy, nutrition, medical care, and some other methods are presented to patients. However, studies show that over 20% of people acquiring the gene, don't get immediate help or get treated even after medical advice given by doctors because the patient would deny having developed the sickness. These people would deny because they would have mental and physical conflicting and confusing signals. Unfortunately, if patients do not get treated they may increase the risk of their health and 10% to 20% of them may die. In contrast, if treated, less than 2% to 3% of the patients would pass away; these statistics show how efficient and effective the medication is. Scientist realized throughout the years that Anorexia is more of a brain-based disorder than a physical sickness. Furthermore, more than half of the patients would continue life regularly after recovery free from any conflicting thoughts about their weight. Also, 20% would maintain jobs but would have a partial recovery, meaning that they would remain focused on their nutrition. The last 20% are still underweight, would still attend programs and hospital units for frequent check-ups.

How is the sickness a psychological problem?

Throughout the years of discovering Anorexia Nervosa, scientists still cannot pinpoint exactly the one main cause of the illness. However, there are a multiple reasons than can result in the sickness. Many factors also contribute to acquiring the gene such as physiological, psychological, and social factors than may highly lead one’s self to developing the disorder. Moreover, the disorder needs to be treated; scientist predicted theoretically the stages the patient might go through after recovery. Doctors classified the divisions to 6 stages: Pre-contemplation, contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and Relapse; the last stage, Relapse, may not occur to every individual but its normal. Each of the stages have a number of important ideas to help the patients handle the changes in their behavior slowly heal. It is also important for the patient to know that there is hope in change, that recovery is for everyone, and that everyone is different. Furthermore, every patient is different, some may take longer time to recover than others. Family’s support play a very important role to a member that diagnosed with Anorexia. Many researchers and organization, such as The Academy of Eating Disorders (AED), claimed that the role of family gives a positive effect to the member acquiring the illness, especially in the process of recovery.

How is Anorexia hereditary?

Anorexia Nervosa is a severe disorder that should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, the gene in recent generations is increasing and spreading tremendously all around the world. Approximately in every group of 10 people 6 may have the gene; moreover about 85% of the patients acquiring the gene are female. Meaning that, the Anorexic gene is found in both genders, however, two and a half more times more likely to be acquired by women; the percentage of all patients is around 10% males acquiring the illness disease of all people. Most of the people who are diagnosed are from the ages of 10 to 25 years old; however, it is not unheard of and rare for a person to be diagnosed at the age of 10 and younger, or even 40 and older. Also, this disorder is known to have the highest mortality rate. The country that has the Anorexic gene on most of its population is Australia then is followed by France and the Netherlands.

Do genes contribute with Anorexia?

Anorexia Nervosa had been claimed by researchers to be a familial and twin studies, which stated that it may be a genetic-causing disorder. The symptoms of the sickness or personality traits of the person may also present heritable factors that may cause other family members to have Anorexia. The traits that have a contribution to the disorder are: emotional instability, hypersensitivity, and obsessive thinking. Recently, an organization called Genomewide Association Studies (GWAS) found a strong method that can help in discovering the increase of the probability factor of acquiring mutated genes in complex diseases and disorders (2017). Moreover, a medical center in the University of Texas found that a family with a member that is Anorexic can lead to having a mutation in genes which will risk having 85% to 90% chance of other members to acquire the gene. In contrast, scientists also found out that a person having two gene alters will result in having a longer time to make the symptoms appear in a person’s life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder that may cause death; moreover, it should be handled seriously. As maintained by the National Institute of Health, eating disorders are expanding due to the increase of patients, which led into making these genes run in families. Investigators today are developing and advancing the search for networks to help them explain the missing information to exactly pinpoint the causes done by genes. Also, researchers are using technology to have further ideas into the disorders in search for genes that may result in Anorexia. By doing so, they would resolve the problem by answering significant questions. Furthermore, answering these questions may illuminate researchers to understand the cause of other disorders too. Using technological advancements can aid to clinical management and assist the evolution in mental illness. Pathophysiology, explains about the development resulting from a condition, the outcomes could interpret principle features of the results of a disease such as energy balance, anxiety disorder, mood disorder. The discovery gave an idea to investigators an important correlation from the illness to the genes in the genetic composition. As what Audre Lorde said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”