Although prevalence of eating disorders cannot be tracked precisely, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder together may affect five percent or more of the U.S. population. Now, scientists have discovered two genetic mutations associated with an increased risk of developing eating disorders. In fact, they show how the two genes interact in the brain, converging on the same signal pathway and producing a similar biological effect.
Having identified this pathway, the researchers hope to establish it as a new target when treating eating disorders.
Read the full, original story here: Genetic Mutation Linked To Eating Disorders Discovered; Researchers Hope To Develop Targeted Treatments