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Some Possible Causes of Eating Disorders

Many theories abound as to what might cause eating disorders and there are many interwoven factors that may be attributed to leading up to them. The fact is, for different people, different factors may come into play and all of them together combine in producing starving, stuffing and/or purging individuals.

Possible Causes

Some researchers have found that genetic factors may be the reason why an estimated more than half of the population may be at risk for developing anorexic nervosa, and more studies on the genetics of bulimia, as well as binge eating, are ongoing.

Another cause of eating disorders may well be the temperament of the person, which is at least partially genetically determined. There are a number of personality types, like the obsessive-compulsive or sensitive-avoidant, who are more at risk for having an eating disorder than other people.

Recent studies reveal that genetic factors may predispose many people to have anxiety, perfectionism as well as obsessive-compulsive thoughts as well as behaviors. Such people may have more eating disorders than others. Also, a person whose mother or sister has had anorexia nervosa is more than ten times as likely to have this disease than others who do not have a family history.

In addition, it has been shown that women who have developed anorexia nervosa have too much activity in the dopamine receptors (that regulate pleasure) in their brains. It could also be that a person begins to starve, stuff or purge themselves and such behavior alters the chemistry of the brain thus prolonging the disorder.

There are also studies that suggest there is a biological link that connects stress and the urge to eat and this may be found in comfort foods that are high in sugar, fat as well as calories, which act to calm the responses of the body towards chronic stress. It should also be noted that the hormones that are produced when a person is stressed help to form fat cells. In Western civilizations, where life is competitive, fast paced, demanding and full of stress, there may be a link between this type of modern lifestyle and the increased instances of overeating.