Trauma

There is a high rate of reported child sexual abuse experiences in clinical groups of who have been diagnosed with anorexia. Although “prior sexual abuse is not thought to be a specific risk factor for anorexia, those who have experienced such abuse are more likely to have more serious and chronic symptoms” (GoogleHealth, paragraph 15).

Family and twin studies have suggested that genetic and environmental factors account for 74% and 26% of the variance in anorexia nervosa, respectively (K.L. Klump, pg 737). This evidence suggests that “genes influencing both eating regulation, and personality and emotion, may be important contributing factors. In one study, variations in the norepinephrine gene promoter were associated with restrictive anorexia nervosa, but not binge-purge anorexia (though the latter may have been due to small sample size).” (R.E. Urwin, page 652).

Trauma plays an important part in the development of anorexia, and it is extremely important to note this; as it is something very evident (I have had personal experience with trauma and eating disorders) and is proved by many studies, like the ones above. This topic of whether or not trauma is important in the development of anorexia is a debate that seems to have come to a bit of a conclusion: YES! It is important.

The video below is an excerpt from the show Intervention and it focuses on an extremely anorexic female named Emily, whose disease reared its head following a rape she experienced in college. The discussion of the rape starts in part I at 8:35 and continues into part II. Emily’s eating disorder started immediately after the rape, and it is detailed in part II at 0:43. This is part I and part II of the episode; the rest can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=FE28432A38BFD4CF&search_query=emily+intervention

EMILY – INTERVENTION SEASON 4 EPISODE 51

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