AUS researchers seeking 3,500+ volunteers for world’s largest eating disorders genetics investigatio

Local researchers will call for more than 3,500 Australian volunteers with first-hand experience of an eating disorder, to enrol in the world’s largest ever genetic investigation into three complex, devastating illnesses.

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Their call coincides with the publication of an MJA Insight article today, outlining the substantial advances made in a recent study revealing the psychiatric and metabolic origins to anorexia nervosa and eight genetic variants associated with the illness.

The ground-breaking Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI) aims to identify the hundreds of genes that influence a person’s risk of developing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder, to improve treatment, and ultimately, save lives.

Eating disorders are not a choice – they are complex mental illnesses that for some, can lead to severe and permanent physical complications, and even death.

Concerningly, eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness. 3-5 To hear how cracking the genetic code of eating disorders will improve treatments, and save lives, tee up an interview with:

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

• Prof Nick Martin - Australian Lead EDGI Investigator, Geneticist & Head, Genetic Epidemiology Research Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, BRISBANE

• Millie Thomas - Eating Disorders Recovery Coach, SUNSHINE COAST

• Dr Sarah Maguire - Clinical Psychologist & Director, InsideOut Institute, SYDNEY

• Olivia Soha - Founder of eating disorders coaching service & Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, MELBOURNE

• Dr Sarah Wells - Clinical Psychologist (Eating Disorders), Child & Adolescent Mental Health Team, HOBART

• Prof Tracey Wade - Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor, College of Education, Psychology & Social, ADELAIDE

• Rachel Favilla - Nutritionist, yoga teacher & author who developed anorexia nervosa while undergoing treatment for liver cirrhosis, ADELAIDE

• Dr Bronwyn Raykos - Senior Clinical Psychologist & Coordinator of the Eating Disorders Programme at the Centre for Clinical Interventions, PERTH

• A/Prof Sue Byrne - Clinical Psychologist, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, PERTH

• Distinguished Prof Cindy Bulik - EDGI Principal Investigator, Psychiatrist & Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, USA (available upon request)

EATING DISORDER ADVOCACY GROUP REPRESENTATIVES

• Mark & Gayle Forbes - Founders of mental health charity, endED, whose daughters have both lived with an eating disorder, SUNSHINE COAST

• Bronny Carroll- InsideOut Institute Advisory Board Member & mother to a daughter who has been living with anorexia nervosa for 20 years, SYDNEY

• Dr June Alexander - Author, writing mentor & Academy for Eating Disorders Board member, GEELONG

For information - click here