There is no one “cause” of anorexia nervosa. Rather, a number of these issues generally work together to develop and drive the condition. That’s why it’s so important to understand the causes of AN and treat cases with comprehensive treatment that caters to mental, emotional, and physical health.
Root Causes of Anorexia
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an obsession with weight loss, a distorted body image, unhealthy eating patterns (usually severe limitation of food intake), and an extreme fear of gaining weight.
There are many potential causes of AN, which fall into three general categories:1
- Biological
- Psychological
- Environmental
These factors generally overlap in complex ways, developing an eating disorder.
Biological Factors
While AN was initially thought to develop primarily from social pressures to lose weight and related issues, an increasing number of biological risk factors have been discovered.
Having an immediate family member with anorexia nervosa is one of the biggest biological causes of AN, quadrupling the odds of developing the disorder.2 Overall, this indicates a strong genetic link to anorexia.
The onset of puberty has also been linked to the development of disordered eating behaviors of all types.7 This is generally thought to be connected to the hormonal fluctuations that take place at this time, along with the increased exposure to peer pressure.
Certain inherited traits, including the way someone reacts to stress, can act as another biological risk factor for developing AN.8
Psychological Factors
There are also many psychological factors that can increase the risk of developing anorexia nervosa.
People who struggle with AN often have co-occurring mental health disorders, which can work to develop, drive, or maintain the eating disorder. Common comorbid—or, co-occurring—mental health conditions include:3,9
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Mood disorders, including anxiety disorders and depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use disorders
Certain personality traits, such as perfectionism and cognitive rigidity, have also been associated with anorexia nervosa.10 And issues involving self-esteem are very common, generally thought to drive disordered thoughts about body weight or shape.
Environmental factors
Our society’s idealization of thin bodies, fixation on fitness, and misconceptions about what constitutes a “healthy” weight, healthy food, or healthy eating habits can play a big role in the development of eating disorders.
Extreme weight loss may be advocated on social media or advertised by gyms, supplement companies, and others. Other social influencers may promote diets to achieve “severe weight loss” or focus on someone’s body type as the main source of their worth, whether directly or subconsciously. And media images of impossibly thin or fit people can reinforce false ideas about “healthy” or “normal” weight.
Aside from the media, someone may receive unhealthy messages about body shape or eating from peers, family, school, the workplace, and even healthcare professionals.4 Fatphobia and weight stigma, which have a tremendous negative impact on health and can lead to eating disorders, have been found to be a problem in the healthcare setting.5 In addition, there’s a strong correlation between stressful life events, such as childhood trauma, poverty, oppression, and eating disorders.6 Being bullied, especially for one’s weight or appearance, can also be a risk factor.11
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How to Prevent Anorexia
While there’s no easy way to prevent anorexia nervosa, raising awareness and educating yourself and others about AN and other eating disorders can help. Learning about causes, risk factors, signs, and symptoms of anorexia nervosa can help you detect when there might be a problem. And seeking professional help as soon as possible is crucial to successfully treat anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia and other eating disorders can cause life-threatening emotional, mental, and physical complications if left untreated for too long. Early intervention ensures a better chance of sustained recovery.
Resources
- Anorexia: Symptoms & Causes. (February 20, 2018). Mayo Clinic. Accessed August 2024.
- Paolacci S, Kiani AK, Manara E, et al. (May 2020). Genetic Contributions to the Etiology of Anorexia Nervosa: New Perspectives in Molecular Diagnosis and Treatment. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine; 8:e1244.
- Levinson CA, Zerwas SC, Brosof LC, Thornton LM, Strober M, et al. (2019). Associations between dimensions of anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder: An examination of personality and psychological factors in patients with anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review: The Journal of the Eating Disorders Association; 27(2):161–172.
- 5 Ways Society Promotes Eating Disorders. (February 2016). Bustle. Accessed August 2024.
- Major B, Eliezer D, Rieck H. (2012). The psychological weight of weight stigma. Social Psychological and Personality Science; 3(6):651-8.
- Lie SØ, Bulik CM, Andreassen OA., et al. (2021). Stressful life events among individuals with a history of eating disorders: a case-control comparison. BMC Psychiatry; 21:501.
- Klump KL. (2013). Puberty as a critical risk period for eating disorders: a review of human and animal studies. Hormones and behavior; 64(2):399–410.
- Berrettini W. (2004). The genetics of eating disorders. Psychiatry; 1(3):18–25.
- Co-occurring conditions. (n.d.) National Eating Disorders Collaboration. Accessed August 2024.
- Dahlenburg SC, Gleaves DH, Hutchinson AD. (2019). Anorexia nervosa and perfectionism: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders; 52(3):219-229.
- Oliveira PDR., Silva MAI, Oliveira WA, Komatsu, AV, Brunherotti, MAA, Rosário, R, Silva, JLD. (2023). Associations between bullying and risk for eating disorders in adolescents. Revista brasileira de enfermagem; 76(5):e20220643.