Eating Disorders

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...ba href=/eating disorder/a/b characterized by significant weight loss and self-starvation.

Evidence shows that anorexia can run in families.

"Recent studies have found that those with anorexic relatives are much more likely to develop the condition themselves and particularly if they are identical twins," Mary Anne Knapp, clinical social worker at the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), said.

"But at the same time, there are also people who develop the disorder who are the first person in their family to struggle with the condition." Richard Levine, professor of pediatric psychiatry and chief of the adolescent and ba href=/eating disorder/a/b division at the Hershey Medical Center, said finding out if someone has a predisposition to anorexia is very complex.

"It's not simple," he said.

"It's not just one gene or one chromosome." In the studies, patients with anorexia or bulimia have their genes compared with the control group's genes - those without the diseases, Levine said.

"This is a linkage study," he said.

"You look at the studies in families with more than one member who has anorexia and compare the genes." The brain chemical serotonin is also linked to anorexia, Levine said.

Serotonin is a transmitter in the nervous system and is related to feelings.

"The genes in [the nervous system] might make one more susceptible [to anorexia]," Levine said.

Also, serotonin is linked to other diseases that are a risk to developing anorexia, Knapp said.

"Other risk factors include family...

...ba href=/eating disorder/a/bs at March 31 lecture University of St.

Thomas, Minnesota USA Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Bulletin Today home ‘Sopranos’ actress to discuss ba href=/eating disorder/a/bs at March 31 lecture Jamie-Lynn Sigler, better known to HBO viewers as Meadow Soprano on the cable television series, “The Sopranos,” will discuss the difficulties of overcoming a serious ba href=/eating disorder/a/b in a lecture at the University of St.

Thomas.

Sigler will discuss “Wise Girl: What I Learned About Life, Love and Loss,” which also is the title of her first book, at 7 p.m.

Friday, March 31, in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium on the university’s St.

Paul campus.

Sigler originally was scheduled to give this talk on Thursday, March 2.

It had to be rescheduled because of an unforeseen filming conflict.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler The talk, free and open to the public, is the first in a series this semester sponsored by St.

Thomas’ University Lectures Committee.

No tickets or reservations are required.

However, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The lecture will run from 7 to 8:10 p.m.

and will include a question-and-answer session; it will be followed by a book-signing in the atrium outside the auditorium.

Members of the St.

Thomas community who would like to join Sigler for a 6 p.m.

dinner that day are invited to send their name to Jennifer Perusek, chair of the University Lectures Committee, at jmper...