Eating disorders constitute some of the major medical health problems in the western world. Sufferers share symptoms such as a distorted view of one’s own body shape and weight, and extreme disturbances in their eating behaviour, which may present a serious health threat. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating are some of the most common disorders associated with restricted food intake or bingeing, as well as distress or excessive concern about body shape or weight.

We now know that the central nervous system plays a significant role in the mechanisms behind the abnormal eating behaviour. In a world surrounded by pressure to be thin, close to 80% of teenage girls start a diet. Some slip down the dieting slope into anorexia.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder of unknown origin that most commonly occurs in women and usually has its onset in adolescence. It affects around 4200 people in NSW alone. Interestingly, before puberty, one in every four sufferers of anorexia is male. After puberty, one in 11 sufferers is male, though this ratio is on the increase.

Patients with anorexia invariably have a disturbed body image and an intense fear of weight gain. Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness in girls and young women (after obesity and asthma) and as many as one in 200 girls and young women will be affected. The average duration of the illness is five to seven years. Anorexia has a high mortality rate (20% eventually die of the consequences of the disease) and one in five will at least attempt suicide. Sadly, anorexia nervosa currently has no definitive treatment.

The symptoms of anorexia Being afraid of gaining weight

Feeling fat despite being very thin

Preoccupation with food, such as obsessive calorie counting

Rapid weight loss and not wanting to eat

Maintaining a body weight below ones healthy resting weight

Obsessive weighing

Amenorrhea (irregular or absent menstrual cycle) in women

Feeling depressed and irritable

Denying that anything is wrong The causes of anorexia The causes of anorexia are unknown, but the risk factors associated with eating disorders are becoming clearer. Some of the contributing factors include:

Gender – females are at a higher risk, particularly after puberty

Genetics – the risk of developing anorexia increases 10-fold if another family member has developed anorexia

Personality traits – characteristics such as perfectionism, negative self-evaluation and food obsessions

Dieting – dieting is the most common feature and a trigger for the condition

Traumatic events – physical, sexual or emotional abuse, bullying at school, death or illness of a family member can all trigger or exacerbate the condition The causes of anorexia are unknown, but the risk factors associated with eating disorders are becoming clearer. Some of the contributing factors include:

Options for anorexia treatment Anyone who is affected by an eating disorder, regardless of its perceived severity, deserves access to support and treatment. It is vital to get help sooner rather than later. The longer anorexia is experienced, the more difficult it is to start the recovery process. At present, a variety of pharmacological treatments are used in addition to psychotherapy, antidepressants being most common. Unfortunately, drugs that are currently available, while helpful, fall far short of the desired level of effectiveness. The most effective strategy for anorexia nervosa is multidimensional treatment that consists of nutritional rehabilitation, medical attention, individual cognitive psychotherapy, and family counselling or therapy.

Garvan's research into anorexia Garvan’s Neuroscience Program is utilising the extensive experience of our scientists and state-of-the-art technology to study the significant role of a specific brain peptide system in the regulation of energy balance and weight control. There is an intricate regulatory system that governs our appetite and energy intake. Certain proteins such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) enhance appetite and induce feeding while others, such as leptin, act as a satiety factor. Abnormalities in the neuropeptide system have been reported in people suffering from anorexia nervosa. In addition to disturbances in the brain, other factors linked to the brain and our responses to food, such as taste, smell, palatability and visual appearance of food, may also play a role in eating disorders. Recently, it has been discovered that NPY also appears in the taste-bud cells, suggesting that this molecule can exert its effect on appetite both via the brain and the taste organs. This may represent a neural mechanism that links taste aversion and eating disorders. The research carried out at Garvan will investigate the functional contributions of the neuropeptide Y system in relation to the development and manifestation of anorexia. Studies have also shown that a gut-derived hormone called peptide YY (PYY) which promotes satiety in normal subjects is abnormally high in people with anorexia. Apart from inducing nausea, high PYY levels were also found to be associated with decreased body weight, body mass index and bone composition in subjects with anorexia. In our laboratory, we have also shown that mice with high levels of PYY have decreased fat and bone mass, suggesting that the loss of body fat and bone tissue in young people with anorexia may be caused by these high circulating PYY levels. Our aims are to determine whether methods to block PYY levels in anorexia subjects may have beneficial effects in restoring body weight, body composition and food intake. We hope that eventually our research will lead to new, targeted medicines for anorexia nervosa and will contribute to greater recovery rates for sufferers. This content is provided for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, please consult a suitably qualified healthcare professional. Key Statistics Mortality is 5 times higher than the general population.

Highest rate of suicide among mental illness

The development has an estimated heritability of 58%