Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

MP with anorexic past gives DNA to establish genetic links in sufferers

Brooks Newmark revealed in the Commons last year that at 17 he stopped eating for six months

Rosamund Urwin
Saturday 19 July 2014 22:25 BST
Comments
Brooks Newmark, Braintree MP has donated his DNA to a scientific project
Brooks Newmark, Braintree MP has donated his DNA to a scientific project (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A Conservative MP who suffered from an eating disorder as a teenager has donated his DNA to a pioneering study looking for genetic links between anorexics.

Brooks Newmark, Braintree MP and newly appointed minister for Civil Society, gave a blood sample yesterday at the House of Commons. He is supporting the work of Charlotte's Helix – a UK organisation that has joined in the global AN25K project led by the US-based Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative. This seeks 25,000 DNA samples from sufferers. Samples from the UK will be processed at King's College London. "Establishing specific genetic links will be a major step forward," said Erica Husain, chair of Charlotte's Helix.

Mr Newmark revealed in the Commons last year that at 17 he stopped eating for six months. He could not even swallow a pea. "I know a lot of people [see] anorexia as a body-image problem, but it's more feeling a lack of control," he said. He "self-recovered" after going to study in the US: "I could reinvent my life – that helped me."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in