Researchers Provide Insight Into Binge Eating Through Rats And Frosting
Researchers are closer to finding the genetic cause for binge eating and might be getting closer to an effective treatment. “Based upon our previous research, we know that binge eating is influenced by genes, but we have been unable to identify in humans which genes contribute to binge eating. With this research, we decided to study two different strains of rats instead of humans,” explained Kelly Klump, MSU professor of psychology. “Unlike humans, animals do not have the cultural, psychological or psychosocial risk factors for binge eating, so they are simpler to study. A rat could care less what it looks like.”
Rats Prone to Binge Eating Narrows Down the Genetic Source
Two strains of rats were studied: Sprague-Dawley and Wistar. For two weeks Klump and her team ran a feeding experiment, giving the rats their usual foods but intermittently added vanilla frosting. “We only gave the rats the vanilla frosting every other day because that mimics human binge eating habits,” said Britny Hildebrandt, a graduate student from the Klump Lab. The Sprague-Dawley rats feel into the binge eating routine faster than the Wistar rats. With that information, they are able to get a little closer to identifying the genes which control the behavior.
Binge Eating Affects More Women
Buy a ratio of ten to one, women experience binge eating more often than men. The disorder can last for years and have serious health consequences. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.
“Women with eating disorders suffer tremendously and deserve to have this on our national agenda with funding for continued research,” Klump underscored. “For far too long, people have thought that females with eating disorders are just vain girls who want to be pretty. Eating disorders deserve the same level of attention, treatment resources, and funding as other disorders, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. No one would say someone is schizophrenic because they just want to think interesting thoughts.”
Sources: MedicalNewsToday, Michigan State University
Photo: Pixabay
More Articles
There is currently no approved drug for anorexia nervosa, a common and occasionally fatal eating disorder. Research showed that low doses of a...
In the past, eating disorders were primarily considered to be behavior. This overly-simplistic misunderstanding of the issue only created more...
Sudden light-headedness can be a frightening experience for anyone, particularly if you are unsure of the cause. For many, experiencing occasional...
Maintaining a balanced diet not only keeps our body functioning at its best, it also keeps our skin, hair, and nails looking bright and healthy....
When a person begins recovery treatment for anorexia nervosa, they may need to initiate a process known as refeeding. The refeeding process is a...
More Articles
More Articles
There is currently no approved drug for anorexia nervosa, a common and occasionally fatal eating disorder. Research showed that low doses of a...
In the past, eating disorders were primarily considered to be behavior. This overly-simplistic misunderstanding of the issue only created more...
Sudden light-headedness can be a frightening experience for anyone, particularly if you are unsure of the cause. For many, experiencing occasional...
Maintaining a balanced diet not only keeps our body functioning at its best, it also keeps our skin, hair, and nails looking bright and healthy....
When a person begins recovery treatment for anorexia nervosa, they may need to initiate a process known as refeeding. The refeeding process is a...
When a baby is in utero, they develop fine white hairs all over their body. These are known as lanugo hairs and they protect the baby’s skin from...
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics found more than 90 percent of patients with eating disorders not specifically defined (EDNOS) in...
Eating disorders might be hard to talk about, or even to admit to yourself. If you know, or if you even suspect, you have an eating disorder,...
If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, you may feel overwhelmed. There are a few things you should know upfront.
First and...
Eating disorders don't discriminate. They don't care if you're rich or poor, they don't care about your color or gender, and they don't care if...
In the U.S., an estimated one in 200 people develop an eating disorder. That is a startling number, but another number is even more alarming: one...
A lot of what people know about eating disorders comes from "common knowledge." Unfortunately, common knowledge isn't always correct, or it may...
Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight. In many cases, people suffering from this...
Most people find holidays stressful, but the thought of facing holidays can be overwhelming for a person with an eating disorder. If a special day...
Blood disorders are a common occurrence in people with disrupted eating habits or nutrient deficiencies. As a result, people with eating disorders...
