Behavior genetics and eating disorders.

Abstract

Behavior genetics is concerned with the genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in the vulnerability to eating disorders. We should be skeptical about simple genetic explanations for disorders whose development, maintenance, and possible remission involve the interaction of individual behaviors and environmental circumstances. Twin, family, and adoption studies can help to delineate which phenotypes are most heritable, and which are most responsive to family circumstances or individual environments. Subsequent searches for individual genetic and environmental risk factors can be guided by these results. Although there is consistent evidence of genetic factors influencing vulnerability to eating disorders, the details are far from clear, and additional studies will be useful. The further development of dimensional indices of vulnerability will improve population-based and developmental genetic research, as well as facilitating the search for individual genes.