Anorexic Teens May Show Similar Traits Found in Those with Autism

A new study shows that girls with eating disorders may have traits similar to those found in people with autism.

Researchers compared 66 teen girls who had anorexia with approximately 1,600 girls who did not have an eating disorder, involving a questionnaire similar to those with personality traits seen in autism.

In fact, the study showed that girls with anorexia were found to have more interest in systems and order and lower scores in empathy.

These findings may suggest that two conditions could share certain features, including rigid attitudes and behaviors such as a tendency to be very self-focused and a particular fasciation on how much attention to detail is given.

"Traditionally, anorexia has been viewed purely as an eating disorder. This is quite reasonable, since the girls' dangerously low weight and their risk of malnutrition or even death has to be the highest priority" for treatment, said study researcher Simon Baron-Cohen, a professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge in the U.K., according to Live Science.

However, Baron-Cohen also points out the difference between the strict sense of organization and detail and the differences between the two health conditions. For instance, both these health issues have a strong interest in organizational systems. However, girls with anorexia are more intensely interested in the system that controls their body weight, shape and food intake.

And other researchers alike believe the study needs further research in order to determine a clear connection between the two.

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found in the BioMed Central journal Molecular Autism.