Anorexia And Bulimia May Be More Than Psychological Disorder

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We have talked about eating disorders on many occasions and there is no doubt that anorexia and bulimia have been linked to body image issues and psychological disorders.

There is far more to eating disorders than the simple preoccupation with food and appearance. But recently there has been research that points to the role of genetics and discrete biochemical signals that play an active role.

Both anorexia and bulimia occur most often in adolescence and are often accompanied by depression. It is important to get treatment as soon as possible because irregular heartbeats and metabolic issues can be linked to the problems.