Katharina Buczek
Recent research suggests that those who wake up early might have a higher chance of developing anorexia nervosa.
The study, a collaborative effort by teams from Massachusetts General Hospital, University College London, and the University of the Republic in Uruguay, found a genetic connection between waking up early and this severe eating disorder.
The researchers pointed out that individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa are often early risers who struggle with insomnia.
This positions anorexia nervosa as a disorder inclined towards morning routines, distinguishing it from other mental health issues like depression, schizophrenia, and binge eating disorder, which are more aligned with evening habits.
The study investigates the connection between anorexia, the circadian clock that regulates sleep and various bodily functions, and specific sleep characteristics, such as insomnia.
By using statistical techniques, the researchers were able to analyze how genes associated with anorexia influence different sleep patterns, thus revealing a link between anorexia nervosa and sleep-related behaviors.
A key discovery of the study is the correlation between genes connection to anorexia nervosa and those associated with being a “morning chronotype,” which means a preference for waking and sleeping early.
This suggests that people who naturally rise early might have a heightened risk of developing anorexia nervosa, and conversely, those with anorexia nervosa may be more inclined to be early risers.
“Our findings implicate anorexia nervosa as a morning disorder in contrast to most other evening-based psychiatric diseases and support the association between anorexia nervosa and insomnia as seen in earlier studies,” said Dr. Hassan Dashti, the study’s senior author.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
