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NATIONAL MEDIA ALERT
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
AUS researchers seeking 3,500+ volunteers for
world’s largest eating disorders genetics investigation
Study to pinpoint genes influencing risk of developing eating disorders
Today, September 22, local researchers are calling 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.
Their call today coincides with an article just published in MJA Insight, 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.1
The groundbreaking Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI) aims to identify 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.2 Concerningly, eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness.3-5 While family and twin studies have confirmed eating disorders run in families, only a handful of the responsible genes have been identified to date, leaving hundreds more to be found.
To hear how cracking the genetic code of eating disorders will improve treatments, and save lives, tee up an interview today with:
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Prof Nick Martin
Millie Thomas
Dr Sarah Maguire
Olivia Soha
Dr Sarah Wells
Prof Tracey Wade
Rachel Favilla
Dr Bronwyn Raykos
A/Prof Sue Byrne
Distinguished Prof Cynthia Bulik
Australian Lead EDGI Investigator, Geneticist & Head, Genetic Epidemiology Research Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, BRISBANE
Eating Disorders Recovery Coach, SUNSHINE COAST
Clinical Psychologist & Director, InsideOut Institute, SYDNEY
Founder of eating disorders coaching service & Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, MELBOURNE
Clinical Psychologist, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Team, Clare House, HOBART
Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor, College of Education, Psychology & Social, ADELAIDE
Nutritionist, yoga teacher & author who developed anorexia nervosa while undergoing treatment for liver cirrhosis, ADELAIDE
Senior Clinical Psychologist, PERTH
Clinical Psychologist, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, PERTH
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
AUSTRALIANS WITH FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE OF AN EATING DISORDER
Founders of mental health charity, endED, whose daughters have both lived with an eating disorder, SUNSHINE COAST
InsideOut Institute Advisory Board Member & mother to a daughter who has been living with anorexia nervosa for 20 years, SYDNEY
Author, writing mentor & Academy for Eating Disorders Board member, GEELONG
Mark & Gayle Forbes
Bronny Carroll
Dr June Alexander
Lexi, 31
Sophie, 21
Stephanie, 30
Bec, 41
Emily, 28
Emelia, 34
Brittany, 30
Ash, 28
Tara, 20
Chantel, 35
Amy, 33
Juliana, 26
Georgia, 22
Marie, 25
Katie, 27
Eloise, 24
Clinical nutritionist who endured more than 25 hospitalisations with anorexia nervosa over 18 years, BRISBANE
University student diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 18 years of age, BRISBANE
Office manager & opera singer who battled anorexia nervosa for more than 15 years, SYDNEY
Business owner & author who battled anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder intermittently from the time she was 12, SYDNEY
HR lead & gym enthusiast in recovery from anorexia nervosa, SYDNEY
Dancer who has wrestled with anorexia nervosa for the past decade, SYDNEY
Senior transport operations controller who grappled with anorexia nervosa for eight years, SYDNEY
Advertising art director who battled anorexia nervosa for four years, SYDNEY
Medical science student who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 13, CANBERRA
Mum-of-four continuing to mount a recovery from anorexia nervosa, MELBOURNE
Mum & early childhood teacher who waged a decade-long battle with anorexia nervosa, MELBOURNE
University student living with anorexia nervosa who obsessed over her body image & weight for most of her teens, ADELAIDE
Community mental health worker who harnessed her personal experience of anorexia nervosa for good, ADELAIDE
Receptionist whose new-found love of Pilates helps her manage her eating disorders, PERTH
Dietetic student & former model who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at 22, PERTH
Influencer, avid traveller & eating disorders coach who has waged an almost-life-long battle with binge eating disorder, PERTH
VISION
INTERVIEWS
Broadcast vision available for download –https://vimeo.com/458058145/bd7600402d
Kirsten Bruce, Mel Kheradi & Holly Hamilton Green
VIVA! Communications
T 0401 717 566 | 0421 551 257 | 0434 799 839 | 02 9968 3741/1604
E: kirstenbruce@vivacommunications.com.au
References
1. Bulik, C., Martin, N. Finding pieces of the puzzle: Australia and New Zealand anchoring the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI) 2020.
2. National Eating Disorders Collaboration. What is an eating disorder? [cited October 2019]; Available from:
3. Ministry of Health. Future Directions for Eating Disorders Services in New Zealand. 2008 [cited Dec, 2019]; Available from:
4. Smink, F.R.E., D. van Hoeken, and H.W. Hoek, Epidemiology of eating disorders: incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Current psychiatry reports, 2012. 14(4): p. 406-414.
5. Fichter, M. and N. Quadflieg, Mortality in eating disorders - Results of a large prospective clinical longitudinal study. The International journal of eating disorders, 2016. 49.