Causes of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are threatening diseases that need to be stopped as early as possible if families were to evade the high costs of eating disorder programs. Apparently this statement is easier said than done. In the first place, women who are more likely to have this disorder are in denial of the existence of such problems; hence seeking professional help is usually not a primary alternative. In typical instances, some would try to avail eating disorder treatment after a successful intervention - only to end in brief hiatus from such unhealthy relationship to food. Some persons would starve themselves to death or binge and purge. As if that were enough, laxatives are abused to further strengthen the resolute struggle to attain a desired body weight. Until such time that eating disorder recovery is almost uncertain.

But why would anyone binge, binge and purge, and in the long run, drag themselves to death by starving? What could have driven these people to such unhealthy vice? Should anyone pinpoint families as a primary factor in the development of anorexia or bulimia? Is culture to be blamed?

The family plays a pivotal role in the development of eating disorders. Children whose parents are suffering from any of the eating disorders are prone to develop similar diseases among them. Interpersonal relationships as well as emotional and psychological problems may also trigger eating disorders. Feelings of inadequacy, depression, anxiety and loneliness along with poor relationships with family members may also result to eating disorder anorexia nervosa and other illnesses.

Eating disorders information cites emotional instability as a common cause of various eating disorders. Traumatic events like death of a close relative or friend, separation and divorce of parents, rape, abortion, rejection and derogatory remarks creates intense emotional pain; Family orientation on the use of drugs and alcohol; Mood disorders because of bio-chemical changes, in which case the person usually does not have a grip at what is happening in and around him or her. This is typically accompanied with feelings of fear to seek professional help from anorexia or bulimia treatment centers. Low self-esteem is also among the reasons why some women binge.

Bulimia – Causes and Symptoms

Bulimia is a type of eating disorder that is common among women. This disease is characterized by eating a lot of food within a short period of time which is followed by different measures to control weigh gain. Persons suffering from this disease which is also known as bulimia nervosa engage in several practices that jeopardizes their health such as induced vomiting, following a strict diet, exercising even when sick, and taking in laxatives.

The causes of bulimia are still not established though. It is certain however, that this eating disorder is a result of several factors that involves one’s health, family, culture and environment. Bulimia treatment centers, for example, observe that some bulimic persons have unhealthy disrupted teeth and dental cavities that are too sensitive to either hot or cold foods. This health status is believed to be a factor that triggers bulimia.

Prevailing cultures also affect the development of bulimia among men and women. Mass media, for example is filled with pictures of those who have the ‘ideal body’ image shown in skinny, flawless, thin frames. Cultures silently instills among people that being sexy is getting petite, thin body frames, like those of bulimic fashion models.

Bulimia is most likely to happen in families where the mother or a sibling suffering the eating disorder. This could also happen in families where being thin is given such a big deal, or dieting is stressed. Low self-esteem and anxiety can also result to bulimia.

Those who have bulimia exhibit several signs and symptoms of this eating disorder. Bulimic persons have excessive concern about their body shape and weight and have the notion that they have to shed off more weight, even when they are already thin and frail. These persons often resort to binge eating, taking in excessively large amounts of food within a short period of time, and then purges it back for fear of gaining additional weight. This period is called binge eating and purging.