Objective: The aim of this review is to examine the literature on possible animal models for anorexia nervosa.
Method: The literature was searched using MedLine, PSYCHLIT, and CAB Abstracts using search items that included body composition, thin sow syndrome, and halothane gene. In addition, key workers in the field of animal husbandry and body composition were sent earlier drafts of the paper for comment.
Results: Thin sow syndrome in pigs has some similarities to anorexia nervosa. Leanness and susceptibility to stress are associated in pigs with mutations of the ryanodine gene. Body composition in animals has a high heritability and various components of this overall composite trait are influenced to a major extent by polymorphism at specific gene loci.
Discussion: Recent developments in understanding body composition in animals offer intriguing insights into anorexia nervosa and suggest several candidate genes which would be worthy of further examination.