Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Anorexia Breakthrough Gives Hope for an Rx

Brain chemistry holds key to disease, say researchers

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 29, 2009 9:23 AM CDT

(Newser) – New research revealing brain differences in anorexics offers hope that drugs could one day soon effectively battle the disease, according to scientists. Some 70% of anorexics show signs of problems with neurotransmitters, which help brain cells communicate. The differences are believed to occur in the womb. The findings could "pave the way for the first drugs to treat eating disorders, similar to the way that anti-depressants help re-balance the brain of people with depression," a scientist told the Telegraph.

"We are learning more and more that some people are very vulnerable to anorexia" because of "genetic factors and brain chemistry, and not them trying to look like models or suffering a major traumatic event."

Brain chemistry plays a key role in anorexia, according to the latest findings. (©CarbonNYC)

Scientists believe that differences in brain development, which likely occur in the womb, is responsible for anorexic behavior. (©mbaylor)

Pills may one day stop anorexia. (©existentist)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Aussie Pageant Teen 'Dangerously Thin'

Contestant meets World Health Authority standards for malnourishment, says doc

(NEWSER) - Health experts are sounding the alarm over a dangerously underweight Australian beauty contestant in the Miss Universe pageant in Sydney, reports the Telegraph. Observers were stunned by the protruding bones of 19-year-old Stephanie Naumoska, who stands 5 foot 11 and weighs just 108 pounds. "There appears to be significant muscle wasting," said one health expert. Pageant officials have denied there is a problem, though the teen fits the World Health Authority standards for malnourishment. More»

Eating Disorders Hit 500K Teens

3% of teens affected by binge-eating, bulimia, or anorexia

(NEWSER) - An eating disorder study being billed as the largest analysis of US teens ever is returning some depressingly large numbers: More than half a million have had an eating disorder, according to government research. Binge-eating was the most common disorder, found in 1.5% of teens studied, followed by bulimia (1%) and anorexia (0.3%); another 3% had bothersome symptoms, but not a full-fledged disorder. While the percentages may seem low, they're actually slightly higher than what have been observed in other studies, reports the AP . More»

Too Much Facebook May Lead to Eating Disorder

Study: The more time teen girls spend on network, greater their chances

(NEWSER) - The eating-disorder blame game has a new player: Facebook. A study has found that the more time teen girls spend on the social network, the greater their risk of developing anorexia or bulimia. The researchers asked 248 girls, ages 12 to 19, about their Internet and TV habits, and eating thoughts and behavior. The researchers found that the more time girls spent on Facebook, the more likely they were to suffer from a laundry list of eating issues, from disorders to an increased urge to keep to a strict diet, reports the Daily Mail . More»

UK Stylist Quits Over 'Average Size' Runway Models

Designer Mark Fast responds to complaints about starving catwalkers

(NEWSER) - A London stylist quit in a snit after a fashion designer chose three "average size" models for his runway show, reports the Guardian. Mark Fast, known for his body-hugging mini-dresses, used three models sizes 8 and 10 to show off his collection yesterday. The move followed a warning by the director of a psychiatric eating disorders association about the use of super-thin models. More»

College Calorie Info Could Be Backfiring

From anorexics to obese students, information can spur 'disordered eating'

(NEWSER) - Colleges that bombard students with calorie counts and similar information to discourage overeating—and the dreaded "freshman 15" pounds—may be causing bigger diet problems instead, reports Newsweek. Many schools are rethinking their strategy in the wake of rising numbers of eating disorders, and a growing sense that a simplistic focus on calories can backfire by stressing out already stressed students. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Anorexia Breakthrough Gives Hope for an Rx

Brain chemistry holds key to disease, say researchers

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

bulimia • health • anorexia • starvation • brain chemistry • eating disorders

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Aussie Pageant Teen 'Dangerously Thin'

Contestant meets World Health Authority standards for malnourishment, says doc

Eating Disorders Hit 500K Teens

3% of teens affected by binge-eating, bulimia, or anorexia

Too Much Facebook May Lead to Eating Disorder

Study: The more time teen girls spend on network, greater their chances

UK Stylist Quits Over 'Average Size' Runway Models

Designer Mark Fast responds to complaints about starving catwalkers

College Calorie Info Could Be Backfiring

From anorexics to obese students, information can spur 'disordered eating'

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Anorexia Breakthrough Gives Hope for an Rx

Brain chemistry holds key to disease, say researchers

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

bulimia • health • anorexia • starvation • brain chemistry • eating disorders

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Aussie Pageant Teen 'Dangerously Thin'

Contestant meets World Health Authority standards for malnourishment, says doc

Eating Disorders Hit 500K Teens

3% of teens affected by binge-eating, bulimia, or anorexia

Too Much Facebook May Lead to Eating Disorder

Study: The more time teen girls spend on network, greater their chances

UK Stylist Quits Over 'Average Size' Runway Models

Designer Mark Fast responds to complaints about starving catwalkers

College Calorie Info Could Be Backfiring

From anorexics to obese students, information can spur 'disordered eating'

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?