The relation between risk factors for binge eating and bulimia nervosa: A population-based female twin study

This study investigated the differential risk factors for the initiation of binge eating and the transition from binge eating to bulimia nervosa. Wome n from a population-based twin registry (850 complete pairs) were assessed with respect to specific measured variables (including demographics, religi osity, lifetime psychopathology, current symptomatology, and personality) a nd latent genetic and environmental variables. Because of the relative rari ty of bulimia nervosa, statistical power was few, but findings suggested co nsiderable overlap between the genetic risk factors for the development of binge eating and the genetic risk factors for the transition from binge eat ing to bulimia nervosa. Genetic risk factors for binge eating and bulimia n ervosa may be largely similar, whereas nonshared environment may be importa nt in influencing the risk for bulimia nervosa once binge eating is initiat ed.