If you are wondering if eating disorders are genetic, you may have come across this line. Many people believe that obesity is genetic. For that reason they will tell you to get off the couch and start exercising and living a healthier lifestyle. But are eating disorders genetic?
Other causes of Anorexia and Bulimia eating disorders can be due to a host of other factors as well. Mental health issues certainly play a role in where chances for developing eating disorders are likely to occur. Anorexic and bulimic behavior are common symptoms of depression. But depression is by no means the only cause of these disorders. Low self esteem and lack of support from family and friends are other possible causes of these disorders.
Some medical conditions and drugs can lead to the development of these disorders as well. People with certain medical conditions are more at risk than the average person. One example of a medical condition that can lead to these eating problems is thyroid dysfunction. Hypothyroidism can result in anorexia, because the body will feel forced to hold onto the fat cells it needs.
One drug that is frequently prescribed for the treatment of depression is Prozac (Sertraline). Doctors sometimes prescribe SSRIs like fluoxetine (Prozac TM) to treat these eating problems. Both of these medications are often used in conjunction with each other. Combined treatment of these two drugs can work wonders for treating these disorders.
However, there is no strong evidence to suggest that either of these medications work any better than psychotherapy in treating eating disorders. Some doctors do advocate using medication to treat depression and anxiety disorders. The problem with this approach is that many of these eating disorder patients also suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Many people who are experiencing anxiety and depression may turn to food as a form of comfort. If they are taking antidepressants, there is a good chance that they will pick up an unhealthy eating habit along with it.
Certain birth control pills can also lead to these disorders. Some birth control pills contain an ingredient called bovine insulin-like growth factor. Bovine insulin-like growth factor (BGH), which is naturally produced by the body, can cause an increase in body fat. If women take birth control pills with this ingredient, their chances of developing obesity are increased. It is important to remember that obesity itself is not a genetic disorder, but the excess body fat that is passed down through generations can definitely make you more susceptible to an eating disorder.
There are eating disorders that are caused by mental disorders. For example, bulimics are usually mentally unstable individuals. They have a constant yo-yo diet of food and due to this, they develop binge-eating episodes. They will then go into a state of shock because of the extreme rapid weight loss. These episodes do not just happen one time for each binge episode either. It takes a lot of stress for someone to continue in this state over again.
Another example of an eating disorder causing these disorders is alcoholism. People who are addicted to alcohol often use food to deal with their addiction. Since their body is now functioning without food, they then turn to food to comfort them. This is why it is so important to know the causes of your disorder, so that you can avoid this from happening to you or any of your loved ones.
Some people have a higher risk of developing these disorders than others. The first thing that anyone should do is to go to their doctor to get a complete medical history. This will tell you if there are any medical conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms. If you are like most people, if the answers are negative, then you should start looking for other options. You should know though that the reason why you have been suffering for such a long time is that you have a genetic predisposition to having these eating disorders. In addition, your heredity may also be to blame because of the way you process information.
If you want to know if you are eating disorders are genetic or not, then you need to know what kind of parent you have. If you have a bad or neglectful parent, then chances are that you are going to have the same problems as them. If you are dealing with someone who is always angry and hostile, you are at greater risk of getting these eating disorders than a parent who is very loving. Although everyone in this world has bad experiences to some extent, you can take comfort in the fact that you are not the only person in this world with these issues. If you have a close family member who also has anorexia or bulimia, you need to find out as much as you can about this condition. The more you know, the easier it will be to help them get treatment for this problem.
There are also certain medical conditions that are known to make you more susceptible to developing these problems. For example, if you have kidney problems or liver problems, then your chances of getting anorexia are greatly increased. If you suffer from arthritis, you are also more likely to develop these conditions than someone who does not suffer from any other diseases. Therefore, if you suffer from any of these, you better get yourself checked out by a doctor right away to ensure that you are not suffering from are eating disorders.
