Heredity and Environment in Etiology of Eating Disorders. I. Review of Family Studies

Family studies of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating) of first degree relatives are reviewed. Historically, eating disorders (ED) was viewed as a disorders primarily influenced by sociocultural factors, however, over the past decade, this perception has been challenged. Family and twin studies have demonstrated that eating disorders run in families and have genetic component. First degree relatives of the patients with ED demonstrate higher rate of ED and comorbid psychopathology, than relatives of healthy people. Family environment risk factors possibly are nonspecific and accompany not only ED but also other psychopathology. It is supposed that there is a hereditary predisposition which passes into a pathological phenotype at a certain combination of context circumstances.

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