Genetic determinants of eating disorders

Slof-Op 't Landt, M.C.T. (2011)

Doctoral Thesis

In this thesis, a series of studies on different aspects of the genetics of eating disorders is presented. The heritability of disordered eating behavior and attitudes in relation with body mass index (BMI) was evaluated in a large adolescent twin-family sample ascertained through the Netherlands Twin Registry. Furthermore, the association of four candidate genes with anorexia nervosa and eating disorders characterized by self-induced vomiting was tested in a female patient group from the Genetics of Eating Disorder (GenED) study and a female control group from the Netherlands Twin Registry. Subsequently the observed association between the Tryptophan Hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) gene and eating disorders was investigated further. In a group of random controls and a group of patients with an eating disorder it was evaluated if the TPH2 gene was also associated with two potential risk factors for eating disorders: perfectionism and impulsivity. The results shed more light on the relationship between these factors and eating disorders.

• Impulsivity
• TPH2
• Association study
• Bivariate twin study
• Measurement invariance
• Self-induced vomiting
• Anorexia nervosa
• Eating disorders

• All authors: Slof-Op 't Landt, M.C.T.
• Supervisor: Furth, E.F. van
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University
• Date: 2011-06-28
• ISBN (print): 9789491211492