(CNN) The way we treat anorexia may be changing, thanks to a new study linking the illness to metabolism. The study , published Monday in the journal Nature Genetics, examined the DNA of almost 17,000 people with anorexia nervosa and 55,000 healthy control subjects. "It means that when we think about anorexia nervosa we need to be thinking that it is not only a psychiatric disorder, but also a metabolic disorder," lead researcher Cynthia Bulik told CNN. Anorexia is commonly treated as a purely psychiatric disorder -- it's why treatments are primarily focused on behavioral therapy. With this research, more attention would be given to the metabolic components of the illness when providing treatment, which could help improve treatment and save lives.

Source: CNN July 15, 2019 21:56 UTC