Biological explanations of eating disorders

Biochemical Approach

This approach would suggests that eating disorders are caused by an ............................ or
deficiency in levels of certain ..................................... or chemical messengers in the brain.

................ levels of the neurotransmitter ............................... have been implicated in the

development of eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.

This is supported by Jimeson (1997) who found impaired serotonin levels in bulimic Pps
compared with healthy controls.

In practical term, this suggests that bulimia could be treated with

....................................... and studies suggests that this is most effective drug treatment.

However, Dr Dee ............................., who runs ......................... Farm, a world famous treatment
centre of young girls with eating disorders explains that low levels of serotonin may be caused
by ............................

She therefore believes that .................................... have no role to play in the treatment of anorexia
or bulimia. This is supported by the finding that tryptophan a substance found in ........................
foods can help to increase ............................... and the lack of starchy foods in the girls’ diets may
in fact decrease levels of serotonin rather than an existing ............................ having caused the
eating disorder.

Barlow and Durand (1995) conclude “the consensus is that some biochemical or endocrinological
abnormalities do exist in eating disorders but they are a result of semi-starvation or a binge-purge
cycle, rather than the a cause.”

Neuro-anatomical explanation

Damage to the .............................. in rats has been shown to induce excessive under or over eating.
This implies that this brain structure is involved in eating disorders.

Some psychologists believe that the hypothalamus works a little like a

weight ...................................., whereby the lateral hypothalamus, which induces ......................
kicks in if weight falls below a given level and the ventromedial hypothalamus suppresses appetite
if weight rises above a given level. A malfunction of ................................................ could
therefore bring about anorexia while problems with the .................................... could induce
compulsive eating, leading to ...........................

deficiency obesity hunger hypothalamus malnutrition antidepressant serotonin

low thermostat imbalance starchy neurotransmitters
SSRIs (drugs which increases serotonin levels)
ventromedial hypothalamus lateral hypothalamus