Final answer:
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are influenced by both nature and nurture. Genetics and environmental factors such as cultural pressures and personal experiences both contribute to the risk of these disorders. They result in severe health consequences and must be understood in context of their complex causality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia: Nature or Nurture?
The debate over whether anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are influenced more by genetic ('nature') or environmental ('nurture') factors is complex. The correct answer is E) Both nature and nurture to some extent. Studies suggest that there is a genetic predisposition for these disorders; however, environmental pressures, such as the cultural idealization of thinness and experiences of abuse or tight parental control, also significantly contribute to the risk of developing these disorders.
Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia have profound health consequences. Anorexia nervosa is particularly associated with severe negative health outcomes such as bone loss, heart and kidney failure, and may lead to death if untreated. Bulimia nervosa involves binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors and can result in electrolyte imbalances, among other health issues.
Undernutrition in children, which differs from eating disorders, can lead to syndromes such as kwashiorkor and marasmus. Kwashiorkor is often characterized by a distended abdomen and typically results from a protein deficiency, while marasmus is due to a more generalized nutritional shortage.