Photo courtesy of www.fbi.gov

Controversy quickly erupted last week over the expulsion of a young girl from a private school in New Hampshire.  The expulsion was reportedly due to her diagnosis of Anorexia, and it has stimulated a lawsuit in which the etiology and legality of eating disorders as a disability will be scrutinized.  While it would be irresponsible to comment on the specifics of a legal case in which the details are unclear, the Center for Eating Disorders would like to take the opportunity to remind readers about the genetic and biologic factors associated with an eating disorder diagnosis.

• Research has shown that relatives of individuals who have had eating disorders are 7-12 times more likely to develop anorexia or bulimia than relatives of individuals who have never had an eating disorder.
• Further research has compared identical twins who share 100% of their genetic material with fraternal twins who share approximately 50% of their genetic material. These studies have suggested that genetic factors have a potentially large influence on the development of anorexia.
• A research study was completed involving nearly 200 people with anorexia and their relatives with eating disorders. It identified several regions of specific chromosomes that may contain genes associated with the risk for anorexia. The results also suggested that the risk of anorexia may be transmitted indirectly through genes that are closely associated with personality traits that, in turn, increase the risk for anorexia.

Recent legislation has helped to highlight this genetic understanding and has begun changing the legal perception of eating disorders from a “lifestyle” that is chosen, to a potentially fatal disease that has genetic origins.  However, as we see in this most recent legal case, eating disorders remain a controversial and misunderstood diagnosis, and more research is needed to establish fair laws and opportunities for those who struggle with this illness.

The Director of the Center for Eating Disorders, Dr. Harry Brandt, commented on the issue at the site of the original article. Click on the link below to see the article and his comments.

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/20081125/FRONTPAGE/811250302&commentsubmitted=1