Where Do Eating Disorders Come From?

There are many misconceptions about what causes eating disorders. Some people think a person develops an eating disorder out of vanity. Some individuals even blame themselves for their eating disorder, but that’s not true. Many parents and family members of a person with an eating disorder blame themselves for triggering it, but that’s not right either.

There are many different causes of eating disorders, because eating disorders are complex diseases. Read on to find out where eating disorders come from and how they’re triggered.

What causes eating disorders?

Despite all the myths surrounding eating disorders, there is no one reason a person develops an eating disorder. It’s a combination of underlying factors, as well as a triggering event or environment.

We know this because some people can maintain a sustainable diet or train for a marathon without developing an eating or exercise disorder, while other people will. Some people can tolerate stress and uncertainty without trying to gain some sense of control and safety through doing things like controlling their size or developing food rules and rituals. Other people—those who are predisposed to eating disorders—cannot tolerate certain environments or situations without their eating disorder manifesting.

What are different factors of eating disorders?

Biological Factors

Studies show that if someone in your family has an eating disorder (diagnosed or otherwise), you’re at a much higher risk of developing an eating disorder.

Researchers have found that eating disorders have some genetic component to them. The genes related to eating disorders mostly lie dormant until some triggering scenario, such as trauma or even a small amount of weight loss, activates them. 

They have also found that neurotransmitter systems, like the ones controlling serotonin and dopamine levels, are altered in people with eating disorders. And the longer someone has an eating disorder, the more their neural pathways change. Luckily, in recovery, the brain creates new neurotransmitter pathways that help stabilize those levels.

Psychological Factors

A person who experiences mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, OCD, substance use disorder, and/or PTSD is much more likely to develop an eating disorder.

In many cases, an eating disorder is triggered as a response to these issues. For example, a person who experiences trauma may develop an eating disorder as a way to cope with feeling out of control or to numb themselves from the distress that comes with traumatic experiences.

Personality Trait Factors

Research shows that individuals with personality traits such as perfectionism or impulsiveness are also more likely to develop an eating disorder.

Individuals with these personality traits have more difficulty regulating their emotions, which is one reason why they may turn to eating disorder behaviors—the behaviors are a way to manage those intense emotions.

For instance, a person’s perfectionism may be so intense and distressful, it drives them to eat only “perfect food,” so much that they develop orthorexia, the “clean eating” disorder.

Social and Environmental Factors

These are the causes of eating disorders that most people think of when they think about eating disorders.

Social and environmental factors that can contribute to the development of an eating disorder include:

• Pervasive diet culture within the environment
• Bullying, especially when the bullying is about a person’s size
• Dieting, especially extreme fad dieting
• Physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse
• Constant criticism and comparison
• Failure, such as failing classes or losing a job
• Periods of transition, such as the transition from high school to college
• The loss of a loved one

There are many more environmental factors that can trigger an eating disorder. Not every person who experiences these environmental triggers will develop an eating disorder.

But, those at a higher risk of an eating disorder may start using eating disorder behaviors, and develop a full-blown active eating disorder, because of an environmental trigger.

What to do if you think you have an eating disorder…

If you’re at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder because someone in the family has it, or you have depression, or you’re on a diet, or any other reason, learn more about eating disorders. Remain mindful of your relationship with food and exercise, and note if/when it gets worse.

If you already have an eating disorder, it’s time to ask for help. Whether you’ve been engaging in behaviors for a few hours or a few years, you need help. Talk to someone about your recovery as soon as possible.