Levels of analysis
Ivy Khuc
Snowden Kent
Period 6
Alcoholism and Eating Disorders May Share Genetic Risk Factors
Aim: To see if eating disorders, specifically binge eating and purging habits associated with bulimia nervosa, may share genetic risk factors with alcoholism.
Procedure: Mun-Chernoff and her team analyzed nearly 6000 adult Australian twins (identical and fraternal)
Conduct a series of interviews to determine the participants alcohol and eating habits. Women were asked about binge eating habits, but not men.
Findings: Nearly 25% of men and 6% of women had been alcohol dependent. 11% of men and 13% of women experienced problems with binge eating.
Implications:
Implications: Genes that influence alcohol also influence binge/purge eating in men and women.
Among women in the study, the genetic correlation between compensatory behaviors and alcohol dependence was significant at 0.32.
The same genetic risk factors for alcoholism seemed to make people vulnerable to binging and purging as well.
Factors
Results
Nature of the study
This study involved humans
Statistical study that involved the study of genetic alcoholism and how it correlates to eating disorder.
Environment could play an important factor
Mechanism
By using twins, study was able to show the genetic correlation between alcohol dependence and eating disorders.
Study did not identify specific gene
Gene that influences metabolism in alcohol, which is hereditary, may have also influenced eating disorders, but not certain.
Representativeness
6000 people in Australia
All twins, both identical and fraternal
Reported about alcohol use and binge/purge eating habits
Genetic correlation in twins.
Study failed to be diverse
Consistency
Results are not consistent with other studies
Researcher failed to identify which specific gene correlates to alcoholism and eating disorders. Other studies able to correlate genetic factors and specific gene plays in with alcoholism but not
Snowden Kent
Period 6
Alcoholism and Eating Disorders May Share Genetic Risk Factors
Aim: To see if eating disorders, specifically binge eating and purging habits associated with bulimia nervosa, may share genetic risk factors with alcoholism.
Procedure: Mun-Chernoff and her team analyzed nearly 6000 adult Australian twins (identical and fraternal)
Conduct a series of interviews to determine the participants alcohol and eating habits. Women were asked about binge eating habits, but not men.
Findings: Nearly 25% of men and 6% of women had been alcohol dependent. 11% of men and 13% of women experienced problems with binge eating.
Implications:
Implications: Genes that influence alcohol also influence binge/purge eating in men and women.
Among women in the study, the genetic correlation between compensatory behaviors and alcohol dependence was significant at 0.32.
The same genetic risk factors for alcoholism seemed to make people vulnerable to binging and purging as well.
Factors
Results
Nature of the study
This study involved humans
Statistical study that involved the study of genetic alcoholism and how it correlates to eating disorder.
Environment could play an important factor
Mechanism
By using twins, study was able to show the genetic correlation between alcohol dependence and eating disorders.
Study did not identify specific gene
Gene that influences metabolism in alcohol, which is hereditary, may have also influenced eating disorders, but not certain.
Representativeness
6000 people in Australia
All twins, both identical and fraternal
Reported about alcohol use and binge/purge eating habits
Genetic correlation in twins.
Study failed to be diverse
Consistency
Results are not consistent with other studies
Researcher failed to identify which specific gene correlates to alcoholism and eating disorders. Other studies able to correlate genetic factors and specific gene plays in with alcoholism but not