Eating Disorders: Weekend Reading Links

I am focusing on recent research in eating disorders this month on Brain Posts.

Here are some of the research abstracts I will be reviewing for upcoming posts.

Clicking on the title will take you to the PubMed abstract and also to a link for the free full-text manuscript.

Higher parental education as a risk factor for eating disorders
This study of the Swedish population examined the effect education and social class on risk for eating disorders. Individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder were more likely to have higher educational levels in their parents. This is an interesting finding as educational typically reduces rates for many psychiatric disorders. 

Increased rates of autoimmune diseases in patients with eating disorders
A study of a large cohort from Finland found higher rates of a variety of autoimmune disorders in a sample of patients treated for eating disorders. Type I diabetes and Crohn's disease were two of the disorders that were more likely to be seen in eating disorder patients compared to controls.

Epidemiology of eating disorders
This literature examined 149 studies on the epidemiology of eating disorders. The review found evidence for genetic and environmental factors as risk factors for eating disorders. Additionally, the review found support for esthetic or weight-oriented sport participation also as risk factors for eating disorders.

Evidence for effective treatment options of eating disorders in young people
This review examined evidence for effective prevention and treatment of eating disorders in adolescents and young adults. The authors note the paucity of large well-designed clinical trials for the treatment of most eating disorders and make recommendations about directions for future research. 

Inferior frontal cortex network abnormalities in anorexia nervosa
This study examined resting functional connectivity in 12 subjects with anorexia nervosa compared to controls. The study found impairment in connectivity in the inferior frontal cortex in those with anorexia nervosa.

Binge eating and risk for gastrointestinal disorders
The Swedish Twin Study of Adults: Genes and Environment (STAGE) cohort was used to look for associations between binge eating and gastrointestinal disorders. Binge eating was found to be increased in irritable bowel syndrome and may be important in effectively managing this disorder. 

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