Eating disorders are a group of conditions that are typically characterized by an unhealthy relationship with food. They can range from being mildly restrictive to extremely disordered and life-threatening. An estimated 20 million adults in the U.S. have an eating disorder, but only a small percentage of these individuals receive treatment for it. Eating disorders continue to be one of the most difficult mental illnesses to understand and treat — and they’re on the rise among teenagers and young adults. The causes of eating disorders are complex, but they boil down to genetics, social pressures, and personal vulnerabilities combined with stressful events or home life. You may be more susceptible to developing an eating disorder if you have a first-degree relative who suffers from one or if you’ve experienced any trauma or stress in your life (from being bullied to losing a loved one). Recovery is possible, even when battling severe eating disorder symptoms. To learn more about its potential causes and risk factors, keep reading. Readers take note: this article includes information about symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment for all types of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED), OSFED (Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder), ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), and BDI (binge drinking induced) – as well as tips on how to recover after treatment ends.
What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is any condition that involves eating and dieting behaviors that negatively impact your health. These disorders can range from mildly restrictive to extremely disordered and life-threatening. When it comes to eating disorders, the most common misconception is that the person with the condition is the one with the weight problem. This simply isn’t true – in fact, most people with eating disorders are normal or even overweight. There are three main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and the relentless pursuit of thinness.
Genetics and Environment
The causes of eating disorders are complex, but they boil down to genetics, social pressures, and personal vulnerabilities combined with stressful events or home life. You may be more susceptible to developing an eating disorder if you have a first-degree relative who suffers from one or if you’ve experienced any trauma or stress in your life (from being bullied to losing a loved one). There is some evidence that genetics may play a role in the development of an eating disorder, but it can also be influenced by an individual’s environment and experiences. There’s growing evidence that epigenetic changes may play a role in eating disorders as well. Some environmental factors that may contribute to eating disorders include dieting, perfectionism, media that promotes unrealistic beauty standards, cultural attitudes toward food and bodies, as well as stressors that happen during adolescence.
How Stress Can Cause Eating Disorders
One study found that people who experience stress and anxiety have a 25% greater chance of developing an eating disorder than those who don’t. Furthermore, 86% of people with BED reported having a history of significant stress in their lives. So why would stress lead to an eating disorder? The connection between these two things is rooted in the human brain. When you experience stress, your hypothalamus releases cortisol, a hormone that floods the bloodstream and puts your body into “fight or flight.” This is a helpful response when you’re in a dangerous or challenging situation, but it’s not helpful if it’s a regular occurrence. When you have regular high amounts of cortisol in your system, it can have a negative impact on your mood and health. Eating disorders are a form of self-regulated stress coping.
Social Pressures That Cause Eating Disorders
Some examples of social pressures that can cause eating disorders are being bullied about your weight, feeling like you need to meet unrealistic beauty standards, feeling pressured to succeed, and wanting to fit in. Eating disorders are often a way that people with low self-esteem try to control their lives and meet societal expectations. When you feel like you’re at the mercy of outside forces, it can be easy to fall into disordered eating patterns. One study found that there are four main reasons why people with low self-esteem become anorexic: to maintain control over their lives, to find a sense of autonomy, to meet societal expectations, and to compensate for their low self-esteem. Similar motivations are likely true for all eating disorders.
11 Tips to Help Those With Anorexia Nervosa and Other Eating Disorders
Some tips to help those with anorexia and other eating disorders are to seek help, educate yourself, and work through your emotions. It’s common for people with eating disorders to think they can overcome their issues on their own, but they need medical intervention. If you’re concerned that you or someone you love might have an eating disorder, it’s best to seek help as soon as possible. Here are some other ways to get assistance. – Educate yourself. The more you know about eating disorders, the better you can understand how to recover. – Talk to someone. Whether it’s a friend, loved one, or therapist, talking about your feelings can be helpful. – Participate in treatment. Whether it’s an in-patient or outpatient treatment, the best way to recover is to go to the source. – Write down your thoughts and feelings. They’ll be easier to process and you might even discover something new about yourself. – Stay positive and avoid negative people. Be around people who care about you and encourage your health. – Get moving. Exercise has countless benefits and can even help prevent eating disorders. – Consider joining a group. There are support groups for people with eating disorders as well as other mental illnesses.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
An estimated 1.9% of American adults have BED, which is more common than anorexia, bulimia, and OSFED combined. BED is characterized by repetitive and excessive episodes of overeating that may or may not be followed by a feeling of shame or guilt. BED is a serious condition that can cause both short-term and long-term health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. There are many misconceptions about BED, including that it only affects obese people or that it’s just a diet gone wrong. In reality, people of all body types and sizes can have BED. The causes of BED are unclear, but research suggests that it could be influenced by an individual’s environment and experiences. There’s also evidence that epigenetic changes may play a role in BED. Some environmental factors that may contribute to BED include dieting, cultural attitudes toward food and bodies, as well as stressors that happen during adolescence. A diet high in sugar has also been linked with binge eating episodes.
Bulimia Nervosa: A Guide for Recovery and Treatment
Bulimia is characterized by a recurrent and uncontrollable urge to eat large amounts of food followed by the frequent use of unhealthy methods to prevent weight gains, such as self-induced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives, or excessive exercise. Approximately 1% of the population has bulimia, and about 50% of them are men. The causes of bulimia are complex, but they boil down to genetics, social pressures, and personal vulnerabilities combined with stressful events or home life. You may be more susceptible to developing an eating disorder if you have a first-degree relative who suffers from one or if you’ve experienced any trauma or stress in your life (from being bullied to losing a loved one). Some environmental factors that may contribute to bulimia include dieting, cultural attitudes toward food and bodies, as well as stressors that happen during adolescence.
Conclusion
Eating disorders are a group of conditions that are typically characterized by an unhealthy relationship with food. They can range from being mildly restrictive to extremely disordered and life-threatening. An estimated 20 million adults in the U.S. have an eating disorder, but only a small percentage of these individuals receive treatment for it. Eating disorders continue to be one of the most difficult mental illnesses to understand and treat — and they’re on the rise among teenagers and young adults. The causes of eating disorders are complex, but they boil down to genetics, social pressures, and personal vulnerabilities combined with stressful events or home life. You may be more susceptible to developing an eating disorder if you have a first-degree relative who suffers from one or if you’ve experienced any trauma or stress in your life (from being bullied to losing a loved one). The best way to recover from an eating disorder is to seek help from a doctor. Eating disorders can
