Causes of Eating Disorders

“Eating disorders do not discriminate between gender, class, race or age. They can and do happen to anyone. Contrary to popular belief, an eating disorder is not based on food.” LeHigh University

Eating Disorders Statistics

General
o Almost 50% of people with eating disorders meet the criteria for depression.
o Only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. Only 35% of people that receive treatment for eating disorders get treatment at a specialized facility for eating disorders.
o Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S.
o Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

Mortality Rates
Although eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, the mortality rates reported on those who suffer from eating disorders can vary considerably between studies and sources. Part of the reason why there is a large variance in the reported number of deaths caused by eating disorders is because those who suffer from an eating disorder may ultimately die of heart failure, organ failure, malnutrition or suicide. Often, the medical complications of death are reported instead of the eating disorder that compromised a person’s health.

According to a study done by colleagues at the American Journal of Psychiatry (2009), crude mortality rates were:

o 4% for anorexia nervosa
o 3.9% for bulimia nervosa
o 5.2% for eating disorder not otherwise specified

Causes
There are several contributing factors that may lead to the emergence of an eating disorder although no defined cause has been established. Contributing factors include:

o Biological factors (Eating Disorders often run in families. Risk of developing an eating disorder is 50-80% determined by genetics)
o Social factors (unrealistic pressures to obtain the “perfect” body; the constant influx of images of perfection; and narrow definitions of beauty)
o Psychological factors (substantial co-morbidity with other mental health disorders – ie. depression, anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, low self-esteem; and feelings of lack of control) and
o Interpersonal factors (history of abuse; being teased for size or weight; traumatic life event(s); and difficulty expressing feelings and emotions).