Genetics and epigenetics of eating disorders
Open accessAbstract
Eating disorders (EDs) are serious psychiatric conditions influenced by biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. A better understanding of the genetics of these complex traits and the development of more sophisticated molecular biology tools have advanced our understanding of the etiology of EDs. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate the literature on the genetic research conducted on three major EDs: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). We will first review the diagnostic criteria, clinical features, prevalence, and prognosis of AN, BN, and BED, followed by a review of family, twin, and adoption studies. We then review the history of genetic studies of EDs covering linkage analysis, candidate gene association studies, genome-wide association studies, and the study of rare variants in EDs. Our review also incorporates a translational perspective by covering animal models of ED-related phenotypes. Finally, we review the nascent field of epigenetics of EDs and a look forward to future directions for ED genetic research.
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References 274 · Cited by 278
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- [6]American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 2013 Fifth Edition Arlington, VA American Psychiatric Association
- Authors
- Bulik, C., Yilmaz, Z., & HArdaway, A.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- ORCID
- Bulik, Cynthia
- Venue
- Advances in Genomics and Genetics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-03
- Volume
- 5
- Pages
- 131
- ISSN
- 1179-9870 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4803116
- OpenAlex
- W2028625540
- Cited by
- 278
- References
- 274
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 25.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Advances in Genomics and Genetics (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH076694)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, genetics, epigenetics, twin and family studies, adoption studies, linkage analysis, candidate gene association, genome-wide association study, rare variants, animal models, etiology
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