What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Eating disorders (n=17000000). Intervention: Eating disorders vs. Matched controls. Primary outcome: Heritability of eating disorders and genetic correlations with mental health and cardiometabolic disorders.

What does this research mean for the field?

Eating disorders exhibit moderate heritability (30-39%) and share significant genetic risk factors with both mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism, and cardiometabolic diseases. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Quantify population-level heritability of eating disorders and evaluate their shared genetic and familial architecture with psychiatric and cardiometabolic conditions.

July 4, 2025Nature CommunicationsOpen Access

Shared genetic architecture between eating disorders, mental health conditions, and cardiometabolic diseases: a comprehensive population-wide study across two countries

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Key result

Eating disorders show ~35% heritability and share genetic risk with cardiometabolic diseases.

n=17,000,000

Population

Over 67,000 individuals with clinical diagnoses of eating disorders, their first-degree relatives, and…

Design

Cohort

Follow-up

1972-2016

Authors

JMJoeri MeijsenCopenhagen Institute for Futures Studies KHKejia HuSichuan University DWDang WeiHarvard University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

This population-wide study demonstrates significant shared genetic architecture between eating disorders, mental health conditions, and cardiometabolic diseases, highlighting the need for integrated physical and mental health care.

Key Points

Quantify population-level heritability of eating disorders and evaluate their shared genetic and familial architecture with psychiatric and cardiometabolic conditions.
Analyzed clinical diagnoses using nationwide health register data from Denmark and Sweden spanning 1972 to 2016.
Included over 67,000 individuals with eating disorders, their first-degree relatives, and matched population controls from a total population of 17 million.
Heritability estimates were moderate across disorders: h2 = 36% for anorexia nervosa, h2 = 39% for bulimia nervosa, and h2 = 30% for other eating disorders.
Genetic correlations showed substantial overlap between anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder (rg = 0.65) alongside moderate overlap with autism (rg = 0.36).
Significant genetic associations linked eating disorders with cardiometabolic diseases, demonstrating robust cross-country replication.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=17,000,000)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Population

Over 67,000 individuals with eating disorders, their first-degree relatives, and matched controls from populations totalling 17 million in Denmark and Sweden (1972–2016).

Comparator

Matched controls

Outcome

Heritability of eating disorders and genetic correlations with mental health disorders and cardiometabolic diseases

Cite This Study

Meijsen et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Eating disorders (n=17,000,000). Eating disorders vs. Matched controls was evaluated on Heritability of eating disorders and genetic correlations with mental health and cardiometabolic disorders. Eating disorders showed moderate heritability (30-39%) and substantial genetic overlap with mental health conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (rg=0.65), and cardiometabolic diseases.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1af0159fa30811a0b95095 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61496-5

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Shared genetic architecture between eating disorders, mental health conditions, and cardiometabolic diseases: a comprehensive population-wide study across two countries

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Shared genetic architecture between eating disorders, mental health conditions, and cardiometabolic diseases: a comprehensive population-wide study across two countries

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

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Also Consider