[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”2%” bottom_padding=”4%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”1″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/6″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.5)” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”small_depth” column_border_radius=”5px” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_custom_heading source=”post_title” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal”][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”default”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top-bottom” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”11003″ animation=”None” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1612880945165{padding-right: 10% !important;}”]By Allison Haener, MSN, FNP-BC
What does the brain have to do with an eating disorder? Having an eating disorder is just someone’s selfish choice, it’s an adolescent “girl thing”, probably caused by parents or the diet industry, and it really isn’t that serious, just snap out of it—right? The aforementioned are a few common and unfortunate misconceptions about eating disorders. The somber reality is, of any psychiatric illness, eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate (NEDA, 2018). Eating disorders are quite complex, best described as a bio-psycho-social disease (NEDA, 2018). In other words, biological, genetic, environmental, and social components contribute (NEDA, 2018). There is mounting evidence of the brain’s role in eating disorders (Weir, 2016).
Before diving into the parts of the brain that are involved, many researchers make an important point. With the abnormalities we will discuss, it is often difficult to know if the abnormality is a cause or a consequence of the eating disorder (Weir, 2016). The neurobiology terms are described by Weir (2016) as a “trait” versus a “scar”. In other words, it is likely that “some pre-existing features of the brain put someone at risk, while other changes develop in response to one’s eating habits” (Weir, 2016). We will focus on what is happening in the brain when someone has an eating disorder.
Let’s take a closer look at the parts of the brain that are involved during illness with an eating disorder. The two pathways of interest include the limbic and cognitive pathways. Specifically, the limbic pathway involves what is important and rewarding to someone and how to respond (Weir, 2016). The cognitive pathway involves what to pay attention to, what to avoid, how to plan, and how to control oneself (Weir, 2016). Both the limbic and cognitive pathways affect appetite, emotion, and thinking (Weir, 2016). There are key similarities in thoughts and behavior amongst all eating disorders, which indicate similar brain disturbances, however individual pathways to develop specific eating disorders vary (Frank et al., 2019).
Within these pathways, research has highlighted structural and functional differences in the brain of a person with an eating disorder, along with neurochemical changes. Studies have found abnormalities in the orbiotofrontal cortex (signals us to stop eating), increased activity in the dorsal striatum in anorexia (linked to habitual behavior), and an alternation in the right insula (specifically in anorexia, which processes taste perception and is involved in interoception, or the ability to sense ones own body signals) (Weir, 2016). Neuroimaging studies by Frank et al. (2019) demonstrated changes to gray matter volume and cortical thickness within the brain. The results “highlight that food restriction, binge-eating, and purging change brain structure” (Frank et al., 2019). Specifically, “the insula and orbitofrontal cortex are important for taste perception and (food) reward valuation, and alternations could interfere with the drive to eat” (Frank, 2019). What still remains unclear to Frank et al. (2019), is if this brain volume alteration drives eating disorder behaviors.
Studies have highlighted the faulty reward processing system involved with eating disorders, specifically the neurotransmitter dopamine (Weir, 2016). Interestingly, this neurotransmitter is altered in anorexia and bulimia, but in opposite ways. Weir (2016) explains our ancient ability to learn from rewards. For example, the pleasure of taste when you eat a piece of cake, which makes you want another. This basic process breaks down in anorexia. There is difficulty coding reward, and oversensitivity to punishment (Weir, 2016). In anorexia, the release of dopamine from the dorsal striatum will trigger anxiety rather than pleasure (Weir, 2016). In contrast, the brain regions which are affected by dopamine showed a weaker than normal response in those with bulimia. An interesting neuroimaging study was completed with healthy women and women suffering from anorexia, during monetary betting. When a woman with anorexia won, the reward processing brain circuits were found to be less active, but if they lost it was more active (Weir, 2016).
The field of neurobiology related to eating disorders has grown over the last decade, however the field is still small and studies have a small number of participants (Frank et al., 2019). With what is known now, the chicken or the egg question may not matter. That is, whether or not the brain structure or neurotransmitter changes are traits (or predisposing factors) of persons suffering from eating disorders or if they are scars from the disease itself. In the end, “neurobiological research in EDs (eating disorders) holds promise to develop a medical model perspective to reduce stigma and help drive better treatments” (Frank et al., 2019).
References
Frank, G., Shott, M., & DeGuzman, M. (2019, July 4). The Neurobiology of Eating Disorders. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6709695/
Kaye, W. (Ed.). (2012). Puzzling Symptoms: Eating Disorders and the Brain, A Family Guide to the Neurobiology of Eating Disorders. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from http://eatingdisorders.ucsd.edu/dl/docs/feast-neurobiologyofed.pdf
National Eating Disorders Association. “Busting the Myths About Eating Disorders”. (2018, February 22). Retrieved January 26, 2021, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/busting-myths-about-eating-disorders
Weir, K. (2016). New Insights on Eating Disorders. American Psychological Association, 47(4), 36. doi:https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/04/eating-disorders[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][nectar_btn size=”medium” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” text=”Eating Disorder Statistics” url=”https://anad.org/get-informed/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/6″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][/vc_column][/vc_row]