... genetic element might relate to personality traits which make the person more susceptible to stressful events. Which could manifest in the form of an eating disorder. * In many cases of anorexia and bulimia, there is family history of mood or personality disorders. * Wade et al studied both genetic and environmental risk factors in 325 female twins, and found significant environmental influence in shaping women's attitudes towards weight, shape, eating and food ... but little evidence of a genetic component. Biochemical Explanation; * Eating disorders may be associated with a biochemical imbalance. Research of the brain has focused on the region known as the "hypothalamus." * Animals have been found to stop eating or even starve themselves to death when this part of the brain is damaged. * According to Keesey and Corbett, the lateral hypothalamus and the ventromedial hypothalamus work alongside each other to provide a 'weight thermostat,' sending messages about ...

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