What Causes Eating Disorders?

What causes eating disorders is not entirely clear, though a combination of psychological, genetic, social and family factors are thought to contribute to the disorder.

Certain sports, such as ballet, gymnastics and wrestling are thought to potentially contribute to developing eating disorders because of the emphasis on leanness. There is also a role for genetics. Individuals who have a close relative with an eating disorder have an increased risk for also developing an eating disorder. There is also an increased incidence of psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, amongst individuals with eating disorders. Sometimes, problems at home, such as drug or alcohol abuse, can put a person at higher risk to develop disordered eating behaviors.

Some research suggests that media images contribute to the rise in the incidence of eating disorders. Most women in advertising, movies, TV, and sports programs are very thin, and this may lead girls to think that the ideal of beauty is thinness. Boys, too, may try to emulate a media ideal by drastically restricting their eating and compulsively exercising.

And this concern can begin at an alarmingly young age. Research shows that 42% of first to third-grade girls want to be thinner, and 81% of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat.

Frequently an individual who develops an eating disorder has a low self-esteem and often the focus on weight is an attempt to regain a sense of control.