ANOREXIA might be physical and not just a mental illness according to a study which claims that the condition could be treated with drugs.
People who develop the eating disorder are genetically prone to have an increased metabolic rate, less body fat and higher physical activity, researchers found.
The condition is traditionally thought to be caused by mental illness which causes sufferers to starve themselves.
But new evidence reportedly suggests genetics may play a key role.
Researchers claim to have found genetic differences in the way the body uses energy make people more vulnerable to developing it in the first place.
'POOR TREATMENT OF ILLNESS'
This may explain why existing therapy struggles to treat the life-threatening condition, and point the way to potential drug treatments in future, the authors claim.
Professor Cynthia Bulik, one of the study’s co-lead authors from the University of North Carolina Medical School, said: “A failure to consider the role of metabolism may have contributed to the poor track record among health professionals in treating this illness.
“Until now, our focus has been on the psychological aspects of anorexia nervosa such as the patients’ drive for thinness.
“A failure to consider the role of metabolism may have contributed to the poor track record among health professionals in treating this illness.”
'GENETICS LINKED TO ANOREXIA'
A study of more than 72,500 people has identified eight gene mutations linked to the eating disorder.
Statistics show that anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and affects between 1-2 per cent of women and 0.2-0.4 per cent of men.
Around 20 per cent of those who are affected by the condition will develop the most serious form of the illness, leaving many in hospital.
The landmark study published in the journal Nature Genetics may lead to the development of treatments to tackle the physical root of the condition.
Our analyses indicate the metabolic factors may play nearly or just as strong a role as purely psychiatric effects
Lead author Dr Gerome Breen, a neuroscientist at King’s College London, told The Independent: “Metabolic abnormalities seen in patients with anorexia nervosa are most often attributed to starvation.
“But our study shows metabolic differences may also contribute to the development of the disorder.
“Our analyses indicate the metabolic factors may play nearly or just as strong a role as purely psychiatric effects.”
The team analysed complete DNA of 16,992 patients and 55,525 healthy controls from 17 countries in the US, Europe and Australasia.
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia is an eating disorder and serious mental health condition.
The main symptom of anorexia is deliberately losing a lot of weight or keeping your body weight much lower than is healthy for your age and height.
People who have anorexia try to keep their weight as low as possible by not eating enough food or exercising too much, or both.
This can make them very ill because they start to starve.
They often have a distorted image of their bodies, thinking they are fat even when they are underweight.
Men and women of any age can get anorexia, but it's most common in young women and typically starts in the mid-teens.
Getting help and support as soon as possible gives you the best chance of recovering from anorexia.
If you think you may have anorexia, even if you are not sure, see your GP as soon as you can.
Source: NHS
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Some anorexics restrict caloric consumption to less than 400 calories per day, which is under a quarter of what is typically recommended for young adults.
Patients may quickly become abnormally thin and therefore weak, and lose more than 25 per cent of their typical body weight.
This rapid weight loss can lead to cardiac and brain changes, bone disease and in some cases, death.
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