1. Cultural Norms
Is America's obsession with appearance and thinness driving woman and teens to literally starve themselves to death? Hollywood, the fashion industry and glossy women's magazines often promote an unattainable ideal of thinness and beauty. As reported by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), The statistics are staggering:
Over 81% of 10-year-old girls are worried about being overweight.
Over 50% of female teenagers attempt to control their weight using unhealthy methods, through use of laxatives, fasting, smoking and vomiting.
A typical fashion model weighs 117 pounds and is 5'11"; the typical American female weighs 140 pounds and is 5' 4".
The current research indicates that eating disorders predominately affect women from industrialized nations. More funding is needed to study women from emerging countries.
2. Genetic Factors
To date, preliminary research on genetic factors or biological causes for eating disorders has not determined a specific cause. According to the NIMH, scientists are using neuroimaging, or an MRI to look for abnormal brain activity in people with eating disorders. Another study is looking at the possible genetic component to eating disordered people. Researchindicates that eating disorders appear to be occur in some families more than others.
3. Investigating Family Life
Researchers, using psychosocial studies are hoping to find concrete answers to learn how and if the family environment contributes to the manifestation of an eating disorder diagnosis. Among the questions they are posing:
Can family members contribute to someone's eating disorder?
Are young girls and teenagers constantly watching and listening to their mothers struggle with their own weight issues?
Are mealtimes a place of stress with a focus on calories and portion control?
Is "being the best" a family value, thus leading to an undying quest for perfectionism?
4. Weighing Psychological Factors
On the surface, anorexia might appear to be all about food, calorie counting and weight control. However, those behaviors are merely signs of underlying issues. People with anorexia feel out of control in other areas of their lives. Controlling food intake makes them feel powerful. Instead of dealing with painful emotions or a traumatic situation, they bury their feelings and use food as a coping mechanism.
Depression, anxiety and low self-esteem are common feelings with anorexia. Some women with anorexia report a history of physical and or sexual abuse; however, that is not the norm. Some females appear to come from the "perfect family," without any abuse episodes, control issues or dysfunctional family problems.
