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Related Concept Videos

Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

2.0K
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
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Bulimia Nervosa01:30

Bulimia Nervosa

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Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
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Binge Eating Disorders01:23

Binge Eating Disorders

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Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
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Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation01:24

Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation

2.8K
During the initial hours of fasting, the body uses up its glycogen stores as an energy source. Once these glycogen reserves are depleted, the body begins breaking down stored triglycerides and structural proteins. During this stage, glycerol becomes a key substrate for gluconeogenesis, while free fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to provide energy for tissues, such as skeletal muscle. In the fasting state, the body spares protein breakdown as much as possible to conserve muscle and structural...
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Autonomic Nervous System01:22

Autonomic Nervous System

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The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a critical component of the peripheral nervous system, primarily responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. It functions in tandem with the central nervous system (CNS) to seamlessly coordinate various physiological processes without the need for conscious control.
The ANS comprises two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. These divisions function antagonistically to maintain a dynamic...
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REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

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REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
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Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice

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Anorexia nervosa: a rogue hibernation?

Barbara Scolnick1, David I Mostofsky1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Boston University, United States.

Medical Hypotheses
|December 31, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Anorexia nervosa may stem from an ancient famine-avoidance pathway becoming overactive due to disrupted internal body clocks. This research explores a novel hypothesis linking anorexia nervosa to circadian rhythm misalignment.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Anorexia nervosa is a complex eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive exercise.
  • The "flee famine" theory suggests anorexia nervosa activates an ancient survival pathway.
  • This pathway may have been adaptive during human evolutionary history.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a speculative analysis of anorexia nervosa based on the "flee famine" theory.
  • To propose that circadian/circannual oscillation misalignment triggers the "flee famine" pathway.
  • To draw an analogy between anorexia nervosa and the hibernation cycles regulated by these oscillations.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis integrating evolutionary biology and chronobiology.

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  • Drawing parallels between the physiological mechanisms of hibernation and anorexia nervosa.
  • Proposing hypotheses for empirical testing.

    • Main Results:

    • The study hypothesizes that anorexia nervosa results from a "faulty famine signal" caused by misaligned circadian/circannual rhythms.
    • This misalignment may inappropriately activate the ancient "flee famine" response.
    • An analogy is drawn between the cyclical nature of hibernation and anorexia nervosa.

    Conclusions:

    • Anorexia nervosa may be linked to an evolutionary mismatch involving circadian rhythms.
    • Targeting these misaligned internal biological rhythms could offer new therapeutic avenues.
    • Further research is needed to validate the proposed hypothesis and explore treatment strategies.