anorexia- genetic explanation

Question 1

what is suggested by this explanation (keeping it simple and obvious)

Answer 1

hereditary- a strong familial link in rates of Anorexia suggests that some people have a genetic vulnerability.

Question 2

how do we know there is a strong link (what 2 types of studies- dont deep it)

Answer 2

twin studies- higher concordance rate
family studies

Question 3

what has been concluded from family studies

Answer 3

First-degree relatives (e.g., parents, siblings) of individuals with AN are significantly more likely to develop the disorder themselves compared to the general population.

Question 4

who studied and provided evidence for twin studies

Answer 4

holland 1988

Question 5

what were hollands findings

Answer 5

Identical twins had 11x the rates of AN than non-identical twins

Question 6

through research, who discovered there was a specific gene that was sig associated with AN

Answer 6

Zeeland (2014)

Question 7

what was this gene

Answer 7

Ephx2

Question 8

how does this link to cholesterol and then AN

Answer 8

When many AN patients are in acute phases on AN they often have abnormally high levels of cholesterol
this gene codes for an enzyme involved in cholesterol metabolism

Question 9

what does polygenetic mean

Answer 9

2 or more different genes

Question 10

who suggested AN was polygenetic

Answer 10

Boraska (2014)

Question 11

what he suggest about it

Answer 11

72 genetic variations were linked to the disorder
GWAS research is able to show that multiple genetic factors not just one are at play in AN

Question 12

what is Genome Wide Association Studies (gwas)

Answer 12

large studies that scan the entire genome
use large populations

Question 13

what do gwas do that helps to increase the search of genes

Answer 13

GWAS are not looking for one candidate gene, which allows for the discovery of new genes that were not previously suspected to be involved

Question 14

what is 2 limitations of this
(think issues and debates)

Answer 14

deterministic- purely genetic explanation might lead to individuals believing they are “destined” to develop AN if they have a family history which can undermine agency and reduce motivation to engage in preventative measures or treatment.

The rising prevalence of AN in non-Western countries and among individuals without a family history suggests environmental factors play a significant role. The genetic explanation cannot account for cultural differences and temporal trends in AN rates.

Question 15

who did a study for slt that supports the second eval point mentioned

Answer 15

o’dea 2010

Question 16

what was the findings of o’deas study

Answer 16

Japanese cultures have thin ideals- exposure to western media caused an increase in dissatisfaction with body image corresponding with an increase in rates of AN

Question 17

what is a strength of the genetic explanation (think who was studied) there is 2 but second idk if you get it fully so)

Answer 17

twin studies- highly reliable due to consistent findings
Twin studies repeatedly show higher concordance rates for anorexia in monozygotic (MZ) twins compared to dizygotic (DZ) twins, suggesting a genetic component.
(The use of MZ and DZ twins controls for many confounding variables, as twins typically share the same environment (e.g., upbringing, socioeconomic status). This allows researchers to isolate genetic influences more effectively than in non-twin samples.)