There are multiple anorexia causes, and the causes of anorexia are not always understood. There is some debate about the causes of the disorder, but the truth seems to be that there are different causes for different people. Understanding the causes of the disorder can go a long way toward anorexia prevention, if proper steps are taken.
Genetics
There may be a genetic predisposition to eating disorders, just as there is a genetic predisposition to alcoholism or depression. Genetics don’t tell the whole story, though. There is usually some life event that seems to trigger a person to develop anorexia. Those are the anorexia causes we want to explore here.
The Pressure To Be Thin
There is a lot of pressure on women in our society to be thin. Men can develop anorexia, too, but there is less pressure for them to be thin. These pressures can be causes of anorexia.
The media is full of images of thin women. Thinness is described as beautiful, while being overweight is described as less than pretty. In fact, even being a normal weight may be frowned upon in the media.
Actors, dancers, and models are often encouraged by managers or producers to lose weight, even when they are already thin. Portia de Rosi, an actress who played in the television series “Ally McBeal,” says she become anorexic due to pressure to be thin while working on the show. Christy Henrich, a gymnast, developed anorexia after being told by a judge that she needed to lose weight if she wanted to make the Olympic team. Christy ended up dying from her disorder at the age of 22. She weighed only 60 pounds at the time of her death. And the list goes on and on.
Childhood Abuse
Childhood abuse or traumas are often anorexia causes. While not all victims of childhood abuse become anorexic, a large number of anorexics were abused as children. There is, however, a correlation between the two.
Victims of childhood sexual abuse may develop anorexia for a number of reasons. When a person is abused, they are powerless. Food intake is something they can control. Victims of childhood sexual abuse may be uncomfortable with their developing bodies. Staying thin is a way of halting that development. Anorexia can even stop menstruation.
Control Issues
Some people feel a strong need to control things in their lives. As mentioned above, food intake is something that they can control. Especially when their lives seem chaotic, people may restrict food in an attempt to feel in control.
The Unknown Causes of Anorexia
Sometimes there are no known anorexia causes. We don’t always know what triggered the disorder. Fortunately, knowing the causes is not necessary to the successful treatment of anorexia. Treatment generally focuses on present-day matters, learning about healthy eating, learning new coping skills, etc.
Anorexia Prevention
Understanding some of the causes of anorexia may help with anorexia prevention. We can encourage the media to feature more realistic-looking images. Parents can help their children understand that the images in the media are not realistic. Parents and educators can help children learn positive coping skills. They can also help children develop a positive self-image. Of course, raising children without abuse will help, as well.
In the end, though, anorexia prevention can be a difficult thing since there are so many potential causes of anorexia. It’s important, though, to understand that these anorexia causes don’t actually cause anorexia in everyone who experiences them. Just about everyone sees the images of thin women in the media, and most of us don’t develop anorexia. Many people who are abused as children don’t develop an eating disorder. Experts don’t know why some people do and others don’t.