Otago researchers uncover genetic clues to eating disorders

A landmark international study involving University of Otago research and hundreds of New Zealand participants has identified distinct genetic signatures for binge eating and anorexia nervosa, challenging the traditional view of eating disorders as primarily psychological illnesses.

Led by researchers at King’s College London and the University of North Carolina, the study is the first to map and directly compare the genetic profiles of binge eating and anorexia nervosa at a large scale.

The research, published in the UK Journal Nature Mental Health, includes genetic data from more than 500 New Zealand participants contributed by a University of Otago Faculty of Medicine - Christchurch Ōtautahi research team. It shows that while binge eating and anorexia nervosa share some genetic influences – particularly those associated with other psychiatric conditions – they also differ in important and sometimes striking ways.