Broadcast — Mini-Psych: Genes, Environments and Gender - The Eating Disorder “Mix”

In the Western world, society puts pressure on men and women to be slim—at any cost. We tend to blame social pressures alone for the increasing incidence of anorexia and bulimia, but more often than not they are simply the trigger that sets off an individual's pre-existing vulnerabilities. It is essential to investigate other stressors that can trigger the onset of an eating disorder such as genetics, physical and psychological environments; gender also plays a key role.

Learning objectives:

• To understand the contribution of genetic, environmental and psychological effects as risk factors leading to the onset of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa;
• To examine recent findings that help explain why anorexia and bulimia nervosa occur more often in women and girls (OR) females;
• To learn about the latest approaches to treating anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

Lecturer: Howard Steiger, PhD, Chief, Eating Disorders Program