plansrme Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 (edited) My daughter has a friend who is awfully, awfully thin. Her mother, also, has that look--hollowed out cheeks, etc., of someone who has or has had anorexia. I have reason to believe that the mother has some health problems that would be typical of someone with an eating disorder. So what are the odds that they are both just very thin, as opposed to its being more serious? Terri Edited February 29, 2012 by plansrme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang!Zoom! Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 It could be a million conditions...is there any reason why an eating disorder came first to mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 It could be a million conditions...is there any reason why an eating disorder came first to mind? Yes. If the mom has had an eating disorder, does that make it more likely that her daughter's thinness is something other than, well, extreme thinness? It isn't as if I am going to do anything about it, as I don't know the family that well. I suppose I am just curious in case my daughter or their mutual friends express concern. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindyD Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 If the mother has dealt with eating disorders, then the daughter would have learned her eating habits and possibly taken on body image issues. I personally don't see how it's a medical disease that's inherited, but the behaviors can certainly be passed down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 It could go either way. Yes, eating disorders can be more likely in families. But extreme thinness and any number of conditions that could cause it could also run in families. Without more information, you just can't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Yes. Many mental illnessess carry a genetic predisposition. For one like an eating disorder, it can be a case of nature AND nurture working together towards a greater likelihood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I think the illness that triggers the eating disorder can run in the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meltf928 Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 (edited) Yes, eating disorders can run in the family, as can other dependencies. (ie an anorexic teenager may have an alcoholic father/grandfather/uncle, etc) However, it's also very possible that the family is just very slim. My DH is and always has been slim. I personally have also always been very slender. 4 kids and hitting my mid 30's have put me into the upper normal range, which I'm still considered "skin and bones" by many. :001_huh: Enough so that when I eat healthy in front of others I get comments (ie, you should eat more) and when I indulge, I also get comments (ie, it about time you ate something to put some fat on your bones) As I stated, I'm at the UPPER range for healthy, I actually could stand to lose 5-10 lbs. I won't even go into the comments I get about THAT. one of my DD's is also very skinny like DH and I always were as kids. She eats, she eats well, she's athletic and has a high metabolism. She's just SKINNY. It's just the way she's built and that's all there is to it. Oh and she gets comments too...fun times I tell ya, trying to explain body image to an 8 y/o because of OTHER peoples perceptions. ETA: My 1/2 sister is 16 and battling anorexia. Her grandfather (not mine) was an alcoholic. Counseling is how I learned that these dependencies can go hand in hand. This issue does NOT run on my side of the family, ie, no relation to me or my DD and our "perceived" weight issues. Our physicians declare us of a healthy weight for us each year. Edited February 29, 2012 by meltf928 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katiejane Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Yes they can. Eating disorders are biological brain disorders that can be passed on genetically. Sadly there is a lot of misinformation out there about eating disorders. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21243474 http://www.kartiniclinic.com/blog/post/when-other-family-members-are-affected-by-an-eating-disorder-too/ http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/305 http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2005/12/04/fighting-anorexia-no-one-to-blame.html I have loads more info if anyone is interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katiejane Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 If the mother has dealt with eating disorders, then the daughter would have learned her eating habits and possibly taken on body image issues. I personally don't see how it's a medical disease that's inherited, but the behaviors can certainly be passed down. I have to respectfully disagree. There is a wealth of research that shows eating disorders can have a genetic link. It is a biological brain disorder and therefore a mental health issue that can be passed on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 There are nurture and nature reasons for eating disorders and other mental health issues. It is very possible that the daughter got the issue either or both ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 Yes they can. Eating disorders are biological brain disorders that can be passed on genetically. Sadly there is a lot of misinformation out there about eating disorders. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21243474 http://www.kartiniclinic.com/blog/post/when-other-family-members-are-affected-by-an-eating-disorder-too/ http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/63/3/305 http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2005/12/04/fighting-anorexia-no-one-to-blame.html I have loads more info if anyone is interested. Wow, that's good info. Thanks to you and everyone else who chimed in. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 There are nurture and nature reasons for eating disorders and other mental health issues. It is very possible that the daughter got the issue either or both ways. This. I believe it can very definitely run in families, but it can also run in groups of friends, etc. I know of so many cases where two or three girls in one group are struggling with it. Almost like it's psychologically catching. I know of one family where both daughters struggle with it, and one of them is adopted and the other isn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katiejane Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 There are nurture and nature reasons for eating disorders and other mental health issues. It is very possible that the daughter got the issue either or both ways. Agree. Here is a good article that explains it. Often sudden weight loss can trigger ed's in predisposed individuals whether by dieting or illness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Could be anything from what you are suspecting to very fast metabolisms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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