Eating disorder may have genesis in womb-study

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

CHICAGO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The male half of opposite-sex twins shares a similar risk as his sister of developing the eating disorder anorexia later in life, a finding that researchers said on Monday suggests exposure in the womb to a female sex hormone may be responsible.

No one knows why girls and women are 10 times more likely than males to develop anorexia, which is a pathological fear of becoming fat that can lead to self-starvation and even death.

Many experts cite psychological factors behind the phenomenon such as low self-esteem and society's promotion of thinness, especially for women.

About 11 million Americans suffer from anorexia or bulimia nervosa, another eating disorder where binge eating is followed by purging either by vomiting, laxative abuse, or compulsive exercising.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03264686.htm

[laconicsax]

1. Women cause eating disorders!

And if you want to look at it like this, this study shows that women who develop eating disorders do so not because of societal pressures--it's because of their out of control hormones!

[Teaser]

2. that's not what the science says

unless you have some data you plan on presenting...

[laconicsax]

6. It's all in the linked article:

...suggests exposure in the womb to a female sex hormone may be responsible.
<snip>
"A plausible explanation for this phenomenon is that in pregnancies bearing a female fetus, a substance is produced, probably hormonal, that increases the risk of having anorexia nervosa in adulthood," wrote study authors Marco Procopio of the University of Sussex, Brighton, England, and Paul Marriott, of the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

"Because the male half of an opposite-sex twin pair would also be exposed to this substance, it could account for the observed elevated risk in males with female twins. The most likely candidates are sex steroid hormones," they wrote.

[stillcool]

3. No one knows...

why girls and women are 10 times more likely than males to develop anorexia? Well...I do..but then again I've hung around AA/NA meetings for years. These people should get out more.

[Deja Q]

4. Why not? The baby is sucking on a large twirly fun straw for 9 months...

And for those of you into genetic engineering:

[Infinite Hope]

5. Bogus...

Sure, they share the same risk, but that doesn't mean it's genetic. I'm so tired of seeing studies trying to link things to genetics without accounting for the fact that siblings are exposed to nearly the EXACT SAME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS! Environment influences behavior. Sheesh.