Eating Disorders: Top 5 Reasons Why It Happens?

Eating Disorders: Top 5 Reasons Why It Happens?

 Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses. People who suffer from this experience disturbance in eating, which leads to related thoughts and emotions. According to the American Psychiatric Association, "Eating disorders affect several million people at any given time, most commonly women between the ages of 12 and 35." These types of people are often obsessed with food and body weight. Somewhere you must also have met or seen people who are always too critical of their body image. It's hard to accept them as they are. Those people wouldn't even know it, but they might be suffering from eating disorders. People with this complex disorder also fear "weight gain" and starve themselves to death. Eating disorders are divided into three central disorders - anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Therefore, it is a disease that is not a choice. You must know that there are many reasons behind the emergence of this serious disorder. If you or someone close to you is suffering from the disorder, you should know these mentioned reasons.

I. The influence of culture

This is one of the main factors responsible for shaping our thinking about body image. Over the years, we have been raised to see a thin body (for women) and a muscular body (for men) as the perfect body shape. Very few people even know that the body shape of men and women can have many shapes. Excessive emphasis on appearance has always been placed in our society. Because of this, many people become overwhelmed or obsessed with weight, which leads them to consider themselves "too fat". They will pursue quick weight loss schemes instead of healthily managing their weight. They also start to starve somehow for some reason.

II. Under genetics

Genetics contribute to the development of our body. According to studies, it has been found that eating disorders generally strike a person when it runs in the family. Subsequently, it has a higher number in identical twins than in any other sibling.

III. Psychological factors

According to studies, other disorders such as clinical depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or alcohol abuse can contribute to eating disorders in most cases. People with fear or anxiety generally have low self-esteem, perfectionism, and difficulty coping/expressing emotions. They also experience restlessness towards situations.

IV. Surroundings

The complexity of this disorder can also be caused by disturbances in the environment. People may have had bad experiences in the past that forced them to create boundaries around themselves. Under pressure, activities associated with eating disorders increase. Some contributing factors may also be – Difficult childhood Social/peer pressure Family/other relationship problems He has been physically/sexually abused He experienced bullying because of his body image.

V. In a state of stress

Stress leads to major health problems. It works both physically and psychologically. People with eating disorders may experience abnormal chemical reactions in their bodies, often leading to mood swings and stress. People under constant pressure also experience symptoms.