What Are the Causes of Eating Disorders?
There is no single known cause of
eating disorders. However, there are several things that may increase the risk of developing an
eating disorder. These risk factors include:
- Personality factors
- Genetic and environmental factors
- Body image
- Biochemistry.
Personality Factors
Most people with eating disorders share certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and a fear of becoming fat. In
anorexia,
bulimia, and
binge-eating disorder, eating behaviors seem to develop as a way of handling stress.
Genetic and Environmental Factors
Eating disorders appear to run in families, with female relatives most often affected. However, there is growing evidence that a girl's immediate social environment, including her family and friends, can emphasize the importance of thinness and weight control. For example, regular discussion of weight and dieting may normalize societal pressure to be thin. Weight-related teasing by peers and family is often related to low self-esteem and eating disturbances in young girls.
Studies have shown that girls who live in families that tend to be strict and that place strong emphasis on physical attractiveness and weight control are at an increased risk for inappropriate eating behaviors.
Additionally, people pursuing professions or activities that emphasize thinness -- like modeling, dancing, gymnastics, wrestling, and long-distance running -- can be more susceptible to the problem.
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