Causes of eating disorders are numerous and
usually hard to determine. The general categories of causes are
media factors, biological factors, family influences, culture,
social influences, and psychological factors. In most cases a
combination of factors from these categories can cause eating
disorders, which is the reason the causes are really hard to
pinpoint.
Recent research in the field of genetics shows that over 50% of the
risk for anorexia nervosa can be contributed to genetic factors.
Research about bulimia and binge eating are currently in progress.
Certain personality types have shown to be more susceptible to
eating disorders, and for the most part, personality and
temperament seem to be genetically determined. For example, people
with obsessive compulsive disorder have a higher rate of eating
disorders. Research has also shown that people are more likely to
develop an eating disorder if a mother or sister also has an eating
disorder.
Perfectionists are extremely likely to develop an eating disorder.
Perfectionists place unrealistic and unachievable goals on
themselves. They ignore everything they have achieved and only see
themselves as inadequate or worthless. So if a perfectionist gets
the idea that thinner is better you can see how the progression
could take them all the way to a hospital bed.
Families that are
overprotective and sheltering can foster eating disorders. When a
mother or father puts extra emphasis on physical appearance, even
if it is not directed at the child, also puts children at risk for
eating disorders. Pressure put on by parents to strive for success
and perfection can lead children to conceal doubts and worries.
This also makes the children try to gain some type of control in
their life by manipulating their food intake and weight.
A group of friends or an organization a person is involved in can
also lead to eating disorders. With the emotion involved in a
romantic relationship it is easy to see how a person can feel
pressured into trying to become thinner to satisfy the other.
Appearance obsessed friends, and pressures put on by organizations
that idolize thinness can lead to eating disorders. Common
organizations or groups that enjoy thinness are dance and theatre
clubs, sororities, certain school cliques, and cross country
running teams.
In western cultures, thinness, especially for women, is promoted as
ideal. It has been proven that people tend to imitate role models.
In western cultures, models and actresses, who are often times
unrealistically thin, are commonly looked up to by teenagers as
ideal people. Eating disorders, whatever their cause, can be scary,
so if you or someone you know is battling an eating problem, seek
help as soon as possible.
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