Background: Anorexia nervosa is a multifactorial eating disorder that manifests with self-starvation, extreme anxiety, hyperactivity, and amenorrhea. Long-term effects include organ failure, disability, and in extreme cases, even death.
Methods: Through a literature search, here we summarize what is known about the molecular etiology of anorexia nervosa and propose genetic testing for this condition.
Results: Anorexia nervosa often has a familial background and shows strong heritability. Various genetic studies along with genome-wide association studies have identified several genetic loci involved in molecular pathways that might lead to anorexia.
Conclusion: Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder with a strong genetic component that contributes to its etiology. Various genetic approaches might help in the molecular diagnosis of this disease and in devising novel therapeutic options.
Keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Genetic test; Genetic variant.
© 2020 The Authors. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.