Testosterone and eating disorders

Research suggests that young adult women exposed prenatally to testosterone have a reduced likelihood of developing eating disorders. The finding, researchers say, provides further evidence that biological factors – and not just social influences – are involved in anorexia and bulimia.In an ongoing study of 538 sets of twins in Michigan, researchers observed that females who were in the womb with male twins have lower risk for eating disorder symptoms than females who were in the womb with female twins.

Previous research has shown that females in the womb with males are exposed to higher levels of testosterone, Dr. Kelly L. Klump and colleagues from Michigan State University in East Lansing explain in the March issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

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