Fat-storing gene emerges as possible contributor to anorexia risk
Medical Xpress reports an early Michigan State University–supported study in Frontiers in Psychiatry that sequenced 154 patients with anorexia nervosa chosen for strong family history, repeated unsuccessful treatment or unusual features. About 11% carried rare, potentially damaging variants of PLIN4, a fat-storage gene mostly active in fat and muscle, versus about 3% of a reference population. Researchers say this specialized sample needs replication in larger, independent groups.
Why it matters: Relevant to Maryland clinicians who treat or refer patients with eating disorders, and to readers following research into the genetics of anorexia nervosa.
A summary of another publisher's reporting, written with AI and checked automatically against the story. The reporting belongs to medicalxpress.com. October 8, 2026.