There are many theories about what causes eating disorders and for each person the reason can be different. However, most eating disorders are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors and sometimes the cause may not be completely clear.
Biological
- A family history of anorexia, bulimia and/or binge eating disorder may increase certain people’s risk of developing an eating disorder because of their genes or family upbringing
- Chemicals in the brain that control hunger, digestion, and appetite
- Hormones (such as leptin and ghrelin) that control satiety and hunger
Psychological
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Past or current trauma such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Desire to have control over some aspect of life
- Inability to control behaviors
- Personality traits such as perfectionism (wanting to be perfect), extreme desire to succeed, and impulsivity (doing things without planning or considering the consequences)
- Family values about body size, appearance, and food
- Low self-esteem or self-worth
- Sense of loss
Environmental
- Society’s intense focus on thinness and dieting
- Participation in sports that focus on body shape and size such as dancing, rowing, gymnastics, track, wrestling, etc.
- Abusive or troubled relationships that cause emotional stress and feelings of loss of control
- Stress at school, sports, with peer groups, etc.
- Specific cultural attitudes about how a person should look and behave
You can’t tell whether a person is struggling with an eating disordered just by looking at them, but there are often warning signs. Warning signs or “red flags” might suggest that a young person may develop or already has an eating disorder. Below are lists of signs that are linked to certain types of eating disorders. A person who has an eating disorder may have one or more of these signs. These signs may also mean that a person has another kind of health condition, so it’s best to talk with a trusted adult about your concerns before jumping to any conclusions.
Red flags for Anorexia Nervosa:
- Skips meals
- Makes excuses not to eat
- Over-exercises (makes exercise a top priority)
- Eats only “safe” foods (low calorie, low-fat)
- Doesn’t eat certain food groups (ex. carbs, fats)
- Has unusual behaviors around food (organizing food, cutting food into small pieces, always finding something wrong with food, pushing food around the plate, adding excessive amounts of condiments)
- Cooks or bakes food for others but doesn’t eat it
- Watches food shows or visits food websites or social media feeds constantly
- Obsessively reads nutrition information or counts calories
- Constantly weigh themselves, or “body checks” (looks at their body in the mirror or feels their body with their hands)
- Chews a lot of gum or drinks large amounts of water, coffee, diet soda, or calorie-free beverages
- Denies that there is a problem despite weight loss
- Recent switch to vegan/vegetarianism
- Withdraws from social gatherings involving food
Red flags for Bulimia Nervosa:
- Uses the bathroom after eating or in the middle of meals
- Consumes unusually large amounts of food at one time
- Loses control around food
- Has scars or calluses on hands and knuckles from using their finger to vomit
- Hides food or empty wrappers
- Diets often
- Food may be missing from cabinets at home or disappear rapidly
Red flags for Binge Eating Disorder:
- Frequently eats large amounts of food in one sitting
- Loses control around food
- Eats when not hungry
- Eats alone, often eats in secret
- Eats as a way to control emotions
- Hides food or empty wrappers
- Others notice food disappearing rapidly
- May hoard food