Eating disorders

Uncovering the causes of eating disorders

Bulimia is a serious eating disorder that can develop at any age, but commonly

At this point in time there is no one single factor that can be identified as the ‘cause’ of an eating disorder. However the medical community has uncovered several different factors that can predispose a person to an eating disorder, including biologic, cultural and environmental factors.

Biologic Factors

There are some personality or temperament factors that seem to contribute to eating disorders. People who have been identified as rigid, perfectionist or obsessive-compulsive are more likely to have eating disorders than those who do not exhibit these behaviors.

Heredity or genetics also seem to play a role. There is some evidence to suggest that eating disorders may run in families, particularly those with a history of depression or anxiety disorders or obesity.

It is also important to recognize that the process of binging, starving or purging alters the brain chemistry which can further exacerbate the problem and lead to even more disordered eating patterns. The person with an eating disorder often uses food as a means of self-medicating.

Emotional Factors

People with eating disorders often tend to have a perfectionist view of themselves, and thus set unrealistic expectations for themselves and others. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy despite their achievements, and feelings of low self-esteem and worthlessness.

People with eating disorders often fail to recognize the grey areas in life, and instead opt to view everything as black and white, which can lead to excessive attention to successes or failures, and over attention to ones body weight and image.

Identity issues are often also present in patients with eating disorders. Oftentimes people with an eating disorder will be confused about their identity. They may also experience mood swings.

Cultural

Many people with eating disorders feel pressure to maintain a perfect state or be rigid from family members. Many also come from families that are disrupted, thus they are more likely to feel abandoned or neglected.

Families that over emphasizes values including physical appearance can also contribute to the likelihood of an eating disorder. Children who are consistently teased or lectured about their weight may also be more prone to eating disorders.

Many people turn to eating disorders as a means to cope with or control their fears, anxieties and dissatisfaction with their cultural or social status.

Some people may succumb to an eating disorder as a result of cultural expectations, which may place too much pressure on emphasis on certain ideals including a woman’s ability to be the ‘perfect wife.’

Social/Environmental Factors

The appearance obsessed society most people live in can contribute to eating disorders. Most people from a young age are bombarded with images of thin, air brushed and beautiful people, and made to believe that these images are the ‘norm’ rather than the extreme.

Pressure can also come from peers who are appearance based or weight obsessed. In fact most of the characters and images of people portrayed on television represent people who are unrealistically thin or underweight. Fat people or heavy set people are often poked fun of in the media, a trend that can contribute to eating disorders.

The media has helped perpetuate the notion that people must live up to an unattainable standard of thinness.

When combined with a low self esteem, feelings of depression or anxiety or isolation, the effects can be devastating. Eating disorders commonly erupt as a coping mechanism, as a way for people to feel more “normal” and in control in a society that isn’t really normal to begin with.