Anorexia. Bulimia. Binge eating. Excessive exercise or dieting. 20 million women and 10 million men in the U.S. have struggled with an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime.
An eating disorder seems to be about food. It looks like a problem focused solely on the body in the mirror. It appears to be a problem of pounds and body fat percentage. But true eating disorder causes are deeper. The pain fueling food and body obsessions is often complex and deep-rooted. Eating disorders usually have much more to do with what’s going on in your body, mind, relationships, and the society that shapes you.
Biological eating disorder causes.
Chemical imbalance. Though research continues, findings reveal that fluctuations in appetite-related brain chemicals are linked to an increased propensity toward eating disorders.
Genetic predisposition. Heredity appears to play a significant role in eating disorders. It isn’t uncommon to see anorexic or bulimic activity play out across several generations of a family.
Psychological eating disorder causes.
Poor self-image. Low self-esteem and punishing self-talkis a common precursor to eating disorders. A sense that you are unworthy or inadequate may tempt you to hide your perceived insufficiencies with an extreme focus on food or weight loss.
Powerlessness. If you feel like your life is out of control, policing food and weight may seem like a way to make sense of your circumstances.
Temperament. Certain personality traits may make people more prone to eating disorders. Research indicates that tendencies toward perfectionism, obsessive-compulsiveness, and avoidance are closely tied to eating disorders.
Co-existing mental health issues. It is not unusual for extreme stress, depression, PTSD, bipolar or anger to accompany an eating disorder.
Relational eating disorder causes.
Trauma. A history of physical or sexual abuse may have severely damaged your ability to relate to your body in a healthy, productive way.
Attachment issues. Parental pressure, shaming, or emotional unavailability may play an important role in the development of childhood eating disorders. Problems arise when a vulnerable child is unable to cope with a perfectionistic, controlling, emotionally suppressed family dynamic.
Problematic emotional expression. Lacking the skills to relate to others emotionally, food or weight obsession may become a way to cover feelings of vulnerability and insecurity.
Bullying. Teasing, torment, or other forms of emotional abuse, especially during childhood, may distort the lens through which you see yourself. In a recent survey, offered by the UK Charity Beat, 75% of 600 participants revealed that bullying played a significant role in their eating disorder.
Social or environmental causes of eating disorders.
“Fit is in.” Being overly "healthy" or six-pack sexy is the glorified norm, despite the fact that very few people can reach the idealized “perfect” body.
Non-inclusive ideals of beauty. For persons of varying cultural backgrounds, a narrow, homogenized beauty standard can be particularly stressful.
Career or athletic pressure. If your success or education is tied to exemplifying a certain body type, leanness, performance weight, or beauty standard, it may be easy to lose perspective.
Social media distortion. In an age of selfies, Facebook posts, and Instagram, it has become a regular habit to edit every supposed imperfection. An eating disorder may become a incapable attempt to achieve the same perfection in real life.
If you recognize that some of these reasons may be fueling your eating disorder, it’s time to stop punishing your body. You can get better. Walk away from the mirror and learn to clearly see yourself again.
If you would like some extra support and are looking for a psychotherapist, please contact us for a free consultation to learn about how I can be of service.
To find out more about my services click here: Eating Disorder Treatment. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver.
For your other needs, you can count on April Lyons Psychotherapy Group, to help you heal and grow through EMDR therapy, somatic therapy, trauma therapy, and PTSD treatment, because we believe in your strength and potential for recovery.
