.
Join our Voices Dispatches newsletter and receive a comprehensive summary of the top opinions from the week.
Please subscribe to our Voices newsletter, which is sent out every week for free.
Recent studies indicate that there could be a genetic connection between anorexia and individuals who are inclined to wake up early.
The recent study discovered that individuals with the eating disorder frequently suffer from early waking and insomnia.
According to experts, this condition is distinct from other disorders that are typically associated with nighttime, such as depression, binge-eating disorder, and schizophrenia.
Our research suggests that anorexia nervosa is a condition that primarily affects individuals in the morning, in contrast to many other psychiatric disorders which tend to worsen in the evening. This supports previous studies linking anorexia nervosa and insomnia.
Hassan Dashti, a senior author from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the USA and an assistant professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School, stated that their results suggest that anorexia nervosa is a condition more prevalent in the morning compared to other psychiatric disorders that are usually associated with the evening. This also supports previous research linking anorexia nervosa with insomnia.
Previous studies have indicated a potential correlation between eating disorders and the body’s circadian rhythm, also known as the internal clock. This clock regulates various biological processes, including sleep, and impacts nearly all organs in the body.
Researchers recently conducted a study on genes linked to anorexia, the body’s circadian rhythm, and various sleep characteristics such as insomnia.
Researchers discovered a dual connection between genes linked to anorexia and genes linked to being a morning person, waking up early and going to bed early.
The results indicate that being a morning person may raise the likelihood of developing anorexia, while having anorexia could result in waking up earlier.
The study did not specify a specific wake-up time for early risers. Instead, researchers noted that they tend to naturally wake up earlier than the general population, with various factors influencing our wake-up time.
A recent research paper, published in Jama Network Open and conducted by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), working together with University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay, discovered a connection between anorexia and the likelihood of developing insomnia.
According to experts, there is an urgent need for additional research on anorexia in order to develop new methods of prevention and treatment. Anorexia has been identified as having one of the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders.
Lead researcher Hannah Wilcox from MGH stated that the practical implications of our recent discoveries are uncertain at this time. However, our outcomes may guide future research on circadian-based approaches for preventing and treating anorexia nervosa.
Source: independent.co.uk
