Whether or not there is a genetic link to anorexia nervosa - Research Paper Example

?Whether or not there is a genetic link to anorexia nervosa? This paper is primarily based on contemplating a widely discussed issue around the globeand which also remains a subject of relentless debate among genetic scientists and medical scholars since linking genetics and the role played by it to fuel the risk of anorexia nervosa in individuals opens a whole vast world to be explored. Facts presented and discussed in this paper are basically meant to provide a crude insight into the issue of whether or not genetics shares a relationship with anorexia nervosa and if it does, then to what extent, and what type of nature regarding this relationship between genetics and anorexia nervosa is exposed by research studies as yet. While some scholars opinion that genetic history plays minimal role in stimulating the risk of this grave clinical complication in any individual, others defy this argument and advance their ideas by claiming that genetic linkage analysis can help the researchers in actually detecting the gene for anorexia nervosa one day. Not many people can be found oblivious to the nature and description of anorexia nervosa. It is basically considered to be a disease which unreasonably induces people to lose more weight than required, even if they happen to be in good shape and weight reduction is not required even in the slightest bit. Full blown development of anorexia nervosa in an individual calls for a dramatic emergency which is where the role of genetics comes in since the first question to be asked by any physician to a patient is about his/her history and in case of anorexia nervosa, patients are particularly exposed to investigation regarding their genetic history. (Szalavitz, 2009) identifies that eating disorders like anorexia nervosa is not addressed as a social disorder, let alone seeing it as a psychological process, as claimed by the Eating Disorders Unit in a London hospital. Research team at the London hospital has got something else to say about the root cause of anorexia nervosa which sets in contrast with what many other scholars claim about this issue. Facts exposed by the research report lay stress on the point that this particularly grave eating disorder has little to do with either social or psychological pressure, rather it is claimed that “anorexia is better explained by heredity — perhaps by some of the same genes associated with autism” (Szalavitz, 2009). As the individuals seen suffering from anorexia commonly seem to be significantly influenced by what other people think about their physical appearance, not only do they tend to develop obsessive behavior but also they become rigid thinkers. Study done on many anorexia sufferers by the London researchers reveal the fact that this disease is rarely seen influencing a single individual alone in a family, rather such conditions as anorexia “occur together in families more often than they would by chance” (Szalavitz, 2009). This clinical complication of anorexia nervosa is particularly seen to influence young girls since females happen to be much more conscious about their weight and body shape than the opposite sex. Gross inability to understand, regulate or interpret personal or family’s emotions as seen in those suffering from anorexia has certain genetic or hereditary influences according to research studies done on assessing the link between genetics and anorexia. According to a notable director of the eating-disorders program, “"[Anorexia is] highly heritable, it runs in families, and it's clear now that it's affected by a cluster of [early life] vulnerabilities like anxiety and perfectionism” (Kaye, cited in Carrie, 2009). This identifies that passing of certain notorious genetic characteristics like anxiety, depression, and obsession by parents to their children can play a possible role in nurturing certain vulnerabilities which can consequently make such children prone to developing anorexia. “A child is 10 times more likely to suffer from an eating disorder if they have a family history of eating disorders” (Casa Palmera, 2009). Individuals able to rule out some particular vulnerabilities which are defined by genetic or hereditary past happen to be at minimal or no risk for developing anorexia and hence, they are not exposed to disastrous anorexic consequences. (Carrie, 2009) claims that though biological component undeniably forms an essential feature of any eating disorder like anorexia and hence it can be termed as a biologically-based illness, the role played by genes in leading an individual to develop anorexia can never be overlooked. Though many eating disorders like anorexia are conventionally seen as biological in nature, an eye-opening article titled The Neurobiology of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa contains amazing yet authentic heritability estimates regarding anorexic sufferers and which lays stress on the fact that substantial heritability undermines the contribution made by biological vulnerabilities to aggravate anorexia. “Twin studies of AN and BN suggest there is approximately a 50 to 80% genetic contribution to liability accounted for by additive genetic factors” (Kaye, 2008). The significance or meaning of additive genes can be described as a broad range of myriad independent genes potentially capable of influencing an individual for developing an eating disorder. Now, the contribution made by additive genetic factors in putting young adolescents at risk for developing anorexia later in teenage cannot be overlooked, since more such factors there are, the higher the anorexic risk would be. Summing up, though there is still no obvious answer revealed in response to the ongoing debate about if anorexia nervosa happens to be a hereditary disease or not, many critics opinion that eating disorders should never be considered 100% hereditary. This is because many cases involving anorexic sufferers show no genetic or hereditary features associated with their histories which could lead them to this disease, although research shows that the risk of anorexia still happens to be high in those who have this ailment running in their families, as discussed with evidence above. Though anorexia is widely believed to have a genetic predisposition by the public and medical community at large, still many years are required to develop a solid genetic profile for this eating disorder so as to convince the scholars around the globe that a variety of genes is involved in disposing an individual to anorexia. References: Carrie, A. (2009). More on the biological basis of eating disorders. Retrieved fromhttp://www.wellsphere.com/eating-disorders-article/more-on-the-biological-basis-of-eating-disorders/728014 Casa Palmera. (2009). Are Eating Disorders Hereditary? Retrieved from http://www.casapalmera.com/articles/are-eating-disorders-hereditary/ Kaye, W. (2008). Neurobiology of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa Purdue Ingestive Behavior Research Center Symposium Influences on Eating and Body Weight over the Lifespan: Children and Adolescents. PubMed Central, 94(1), 121-135. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.11.037 Szalavitz, M. (2009, June 19). A Genetic Link Between Anorexia and Autism? TIME MAGAZINE. Retrieved fromhttp://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1904999,00.html Read More