'Binge Eating' Gene In Teenagers Is Discovered

Binge eating in teenagers may be caused by a variation of a specific gene, according to scientists.

Researchers say that young people with this genetic imbalance have a 20% higher chance of excessively overeating, and subsequently becoming obese.

The pattern, found in the FTO gene locus, is especially evident in teenage girls.

Young women who have the genetic variation are 30% more likely to binge eat, University College London's Institute of Child Health found.

Lead author Dr Nadia Micali said: "This research offers an important first step towards understanding the genetic risk for binge eating and will help inform how we develop strategies to counter the obesity crisis."

Her team analysed data from 6,000 teenagers who took part in the University of Bristol's Children of the 90s study - and tried to see whether genetic variations associated with a higher BMI and obesity risk could also predict binge eating.

About one in 10 British adults and teenagers are binge eaters, which can leave individuals feeling like they have lost control over what they consume.

The condition is most common in people who are overweight or obese.

It has long been established that both environmental and genetic factors can lead to eating disorders of this nature, but UCL's findings are significant because of how the specific gene behind this behaviour has been identified.