Perspectiva evolucionista de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria / Evolutionary perspective of eating disorders
Rev. méd. Chile
;
140(4): 517-523, abr. 2012. ilus
Article
in Spanish
| LILACS
| ID: lil-643224
ABSTRACT
Background:
Evolutionary theory has contributed with physiological, psychological and behavioral explanations to the comprehension and treatment of eating disorders (ED). The aim of this review is to analyze the relationship between ED and the attachment theory and natural selection based hypotheses (famine flight, reproductive suppression and intrasexual competition). Insecure attachment is characteristic of ED and significantly interferes in the individuation developmental process. Maternal attachment is usually ambivalent; mainly avoidant in anorexics and anxious in bulimics. Anorexic syndrome evokes ancestral adaptive mechanisms to face food scarcity, status achievement and threat of group exclusion. Suppression of reproductive capacity in anorexics, favored by family dynamics, represents a self-sacrifice to obtain the benefit of its members through genetic altruism. Feminine intrasexual competence is related to nubile features in order to attract and retain high quality and long-term partners. Therefore, from an evolutionary perspective, ED symptomatology may be described as a self-destructive adaptive state of lack of control, in response to a particular genetic phenotype plasticity, environmental factors and cognitive processes.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Feeding and Eating Disorders
/
Biological Evolution
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
Spanish
Journal:
Rev. méd. Chile
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2012
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Chile
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidad de Valparaíso/CL
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS