Feeling Sick

Eating is fundamental to our survival and subject to numerous biological regulators that influence when, what, and how much we eat. This makes biological factors central to any answer for why someone develops purging disorder. Genetic factors impact body weight and temperament and may even influence a person’s susceptibility to nausea and vomiting. Yet data from family and twin studies suggest that genes may play a slightly smaller role in risk for purging disorder compared to other eating disorders. Instead, biological responses to food intake may explain the unique configuration of purging after consuming normal amounts of food in purging disorder. Compared to those with bulimia, individuals with purging disorder have greater release of hormones that trigger the brain to stop eating. Compared to those with bulimia and those without an eating disorder, individuals with purging disorder release excessive amounts of a hormone that triggers feelings of nausea and stomachache.