Spotlight on eating disorders
For some people, food is one of life's great pleasures and an important source of enjoyment. Others eat mostly as part of their daily routine. And then there are those who end up in all-out war with their own eating. Now, researchers at Karolinska Institutet are planning to separate fact from fiction.
A disease with many faces
An eating disorder does not need to be visible on the outside and can affect anyone. Simplified explanatory models have flourished for a long time while victims and their relatives have been groping for answers of their own.
She is gathering hundreds of thousands of saliva samples
Different eating disorders – what separates them?
Eating disorder is an collective definition of several psychiatric diagnosis linked to food, weight and body perception. On an individual level, the problems can vary a lot.
Mice give clues on anorexia
n the 1970s, American researchers discovered that some mice in their laboratory spontaneously stopped eating. This type of mice are now being studied by Ki researcher Ida Nilsson.
9 truths about eating disorders
The nine truths about eating disorders were developed in 2014 by KI Professor Cynthia Bulik and are supported by researchers from around the world.
Real life stories
Photo: Rebecka Uhlin“Snap out of it, live your lives!”
All three of Marit Sahlström’s sisters had anorexia nervosa. Relatives need help and support too, she says.
Photo: Rebecka Uhlin"It became a kind of addiction"
Because Jonathan Ekblad was of normal weight, people did not understand that he had an eating disorder. Finally, he found a treatment that worked.
Photo: Sara Johari"I no longer wanted to live"
Malin Lagerstedt fell ill with anorexia in her late teens. Her rescue came through a private clinic.
Research participants wanted
Photo: EnvatoElements By jacoblundGlobal study in the gentics of eating disorders
The Eating Disorders Genetic Initiative (EDGI) is the world's largest study of how genetic and environmental factors affect the risk of eating disorders. In addition to Sweden, Australia, the US, the UK and New Zeeland are included, and more countries are entering. The goal is to globally recruit 100,000 participants with eating disorders.
Are you 16 years or older? Do you suffer from or have you previously had anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating or other eating disorder? Or do you want to contribute by participating as a healthy control? Then you are warmly welcome to join the EDGI!
Please note that you need to join the study in your own country. If you are unsure about how to proceed, you are most welcome to contact us on edgi@meb.ki.se.
Some of our researchers in this area
Photo: Martin StenmarkUnderstanding the biology of eating disorders
Cynthia Bulik has studied eating disorders since the 1980s, and has among other things founded the Centre for Eating Disorders Innovation. She wants to reduce the stigma surrounding anorexia nervosa by increasing the knowledge of its biological causes.
Photo: Stefan ZimmermanEtiology, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders.
Intuitively, diagnoses like anxiety disorder or depression are easier to understand, but why does a person develop an eating disorder? This is something that Ata Ghaderi wants to learn more about.
Photo: Gunilla SonnebringInterested in compulsive exercise as a symptom
Emma Forsén Mantilla is a psychologist and researcher at the Centre for Eating Disorders Innovation. Her research includes compulsive exercise as a symptom in eating disorders and various forms of preventive efforts.