For example, mice bred to develop altered serotonin systems end up having eating disorders, according to one study. Chemical studies also indicate that humans in the throes of some eating disorders as well as those who recovered from bulimia or anorexia appear to have abnormal serotonin activity. Recently, scientists also found that recovered bulimics will regain some symptoms of the disorder, such as feeling fat, if their serotonin activity is manipulated. Possibly, some people inherit a fragile serotonin system that goes out of whack under certain conditions, such as extreme dieting, and contributes to the development of eating disorders. Scientists hope that pinpointing the exact nature of serotonin's relationship to eating disorders as well as other possible biological underpinnings will lead to more successful treatment methods.
Some evidence indicates that eating disorders are linked to serotonin.
The complex molecule is manufactured in brain cells from the amino acid, tryptophan, which is found in many types of food. Serotonin is very important for brain function because it helps transmit vital chemical messages in the brain by attaching to specific proteins, known as receptors, on nearby brain cells. Some researchers think that an imbalance in the serotonin chemical could lead to abnormal brain cell message transmission, which might contribute to the development of eating disorders. Illustration by Lydia Kibiuk, Copyright 2000 Lydia Kibiuk. Stunted growth and delayed bone development have been seen in children and adolescents, while osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures are more common in slightly older anorexic women.