Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative

visit the EDGI website

Aim

EDGI aims to identify the hundreds of genes that influence a person’s risk of developing the complex, devastating illnesses of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder, in order to improve treatment, and ultimately, save lives.

Participation involves

• A 10-15 minute core online survey module on eating behaviours, used to determine eligibility into the study
• Extra non-core survey modules on topics related to eating disorders, like mood, treatment and personality (can take up to 30 minutes)
• Donating a saliva DNA sample (if eligible)

Eligibility criteria

• Australian, 13 years and over
• Have currently, or at any point in their lives experienced an eating disorder

Study Description

The Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI) is the largest and most rigorous genetic investigation of eating disorders ever performed. EDGI researchers propose to use genetics to understand the biology of eating disorders and, in turn, the pathways and systems that influence these complex diseases.

Last year EDGI researchers published the exciting results from their previous collaborative study – the Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative (ANGI) study – identifying eight genetic variants significantly associated with anorexia nervosa: https://www.qimrberghofer.edu.au/2019/07/australian-researchers-help-identify-first-genes-linked-to-anorexia-nervosa/

Following these ground-breaking advances, EDGI researchers are now expanding their work to attend to the three major eating disorders – anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

The Australian arm of EDGI aims to recruit 3500 Australians who have experienced an eating disorder at some time in their life, as well as a control group, to help us reach this goal.  

Study participation involves providing informed consent followed by a 10-15 minute online (core) survey.  Participants are also given the option of completing the remaining online survey in short modules at their convenience.

After completing the core survey, eligible participants will be asked to donate a saliva sample. Researchers will send a saliva collection kit together with a pre-paid return envelope to selected participants. EDGI researchers will extract DNA from saliva samples to identify specific genes associated with eating disorders.