Who is developing eating disorders?
- 90% of eating disorders effect females, 10% males
- 2-5% of girls will develop Bulimia Nervosa
- 1-2% of girls will develop Anorexia Nervosa
- Almost all social classes and ethnic groups are affected by eating disorders, however, eating disorders are more prevalent in industrialized societies.
How do people develop eating disorders?
Throughout the years, many factors ranging from the most simple (e.g. peer pressure) to the most complex (e.g. genetics and brain chemistry) have been identified as contributors to eating disorder development. However- 3 general categories have emerged that are commonly considered to be 'contributers' to the development of eating disorders:
The 3 'Contributers'
- Culture/Media Especially in our "North American" culture, the media has obviously contributed to an increased obsession to be thin. We are bombarded with images of stick thin woman on TV, in movies, and in magazines. This body type (of a typical model) is natural for only 5 % of the general population. The average model is 23% thinner than an average woman. Images on T.V. spend countless hours telling us to lose weight, be thin and beautiful, and to buy more 'magic cures' (ie. Diet pills/exercise contraptions/surgeries etc.)
- Individual Many people with eating disorders have an underlying mental health issue, whether it contributes to the development of an eating disorder or if it is brought on by the eating disorder. Some of the psychological illness that can be (but are not always) found in people suffering with Anorexia and Bulimia are: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, BiPolar and BiPolar II Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Panic Disorders and anxiety, and Dissociative Disorder and Multiple Personality Disorder.
- Family factors
It is thought that there is a possible genetic link. Recent research shows that it is becoming clear that genetics and biology may be linked to development of eating disorders. If a close relative has an eating disorder, you are 50% more likely to develop one.
Family Influences: in addition to the possible genetic link, you are more likely to develop and eating disorder if your parents/siblings were constantly on "diets" and weight loss was a focus in your family.
Family Pressures: Children often receive pressure to be the perfect student, the perfect daughter, the perfect everything. Often, children see being thin as being perfect causing them to go to extreme measures to become that way.