RISK COMPONENTS IN EATING DISORDERS 1
Risk Components and Complications
in Eating Disorders
Cassidy Thomas
Salt Lake Community College
Abstract
The evolution of an eating disorder such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge
eating disorder is a varied and complex issue that unfortunately affects a numerous number of
young males and females at the peak of their lives, focusing on the ages of eleven to twenty .
Eating disorders are one of the most common problems among adolescents and children. These
multiplex disorders seem to stem from a combination of several risk factors. Uncovering those
risks is an important step in helping medical professionals treat and recover patients diagnosed
with eating disorders. In this review, the possible risk factors such as genetics, psychological,
and sociocultural are explored with additional insight into the health complications of acquiring
an eating disorder.
An eating disorder is a mental disorder that can cause abnormal eating habits that
have a cynical affect on both the mental and physical aspects of an individual's health. For
many people, a fixation with food becomes a way to gain power over at least one aspect of
their life. Although it may start out by eating a little bit less, it can lead to extreme health
RISK COMPONENTS OF EATING DISORDERS
2
problems and take control over the person's life. Eating disorders are dangerous and can have
long-term health issues and consequences if not taken care of. The two most common eating
disorders among adolescents are anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Anorexia nervosa is
characterized by extreme measures of food restriction followed by excessive weight loss.
Bulimia nervosa is classified by binge eating and then purging, and an excessive evaluation on
one's value or self worth by means of self image and body weight. Purging is identified as over
exercising, self- induced vomiting, or even diuretics and enemas. Anorexia is usually
distinguished by being underweight whereas bulimia is distinguished as being in the range of
normal to obese. Studies show that Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa occur ten times more
in females than in males. Unfortunately, in the United States eating disorders are so common that
one or two out of every one hundred kids will have an eating disorder. Many factors appear to
play a role in how one acquires an eating disorder, however, the nature of the causes have yet to
be discovered.
Genetic Factors
Various studies suggest that the vulnerability to a mental illness may be genetic. Research
such as heritability and twin studies have been useful in proving this. (The genetics of eating
disorders, 2014) studied whether heredity had any significance in acquiring an eating disorder.
His findings revealed pathological thinking such as weight fixation, body dissatisfaction, eating
and weight concerns have a correlation with heritability of roughly forty-six to seventy-two
percent. The findings also show that the genetic component of AN to BN contributes to clinical
eating pathology. Individuals who have a family member with an eating disorder are eight to
twelve times more likely to develop one as well. Twin studies are also helpful in this research
RISK COMPONENTS OF EATING DISORDERS
3
because scientists are able to differentiate the genetic effects from the environmental effects.
They compare the similarity for a given trait between identical and fraternal twins, and this can
be done because identical twins share all their genes whereas fraternal twins share about half.
Therefore, identical twin correlations that are about two times greater than fraternal twins
propose genetic effects. Personality characteristics are also a major factor in genetic disposure. “
Individuals with AN and BN exhibit characteristic personality traits including high levels of
stress reactivity, negative emotionality, and harm avoidance”(The genetics of eating disorders,
2014). No only do these conditions make an individual more prone to an eating disorder but they
are also more likely to persist after treatment. Genetics clearly plays a major role although there
is still additional research that needs to be done.
Psychological Factors
Psychological factors include complex interactions between the mind, body, and the
brain. The factors are listed as perfectionism; one of the most common risk factors which
involves setting expectations that are unrealistic, body image; encircles how one feels about their
body and themselves, previous history of an anxiety disorder, and behavioral inflexibility;
individuals feel there is only one right way to do things. Due to high levels of maladaptive
perfectionism, traits may lead an individual to follow rules strictly regarding when they should
eat, as well as set an unrealistic ideal on being thin. Several ongoing studies have revealed that
more extreme levels of perfectionism are linked to the onset of eating disorders (Pamela K. Keel,
2015). Negative body image is another potential benefactor regarding psychological factors,
especially teenage girls. Body image statistics reports that eighty percent of girls fear becoming
RISK COMPONENTS OF EATING DISORDERS
4
fat. Mindsets like these lead to an over judgement of shape and weight which can potentially lead
to an eating disorder.
Sociocultural Factors
Sociocultural factors pertain to the impact that the combination of social and cultural
influence has on one's mental health. They are key variables in the development of an eating
disorder. Many cultures place a value on obtaining a “perfect body” and praise being the socially
acceptable size which is usually thin. The media is considered a major socio cultural factor
because it sets the norm of what size women and men should or shouldn’t be. Certain variables
such as familial interaction patterns, parental attitude towards weight control, and the desire for
thinness also have a prevailing role(P. Bambery). Sociocultural factors are usually in the
background of someone who develops Anorexia Nervosa. The Anorexic convalescent is usually
the perfectionist, the overachiever, and the envied one of the group; this is due to the disposition
of the disorder. According to studies, women who have an eating disorder have greater body
dissatisfaction. It seems that this factor affects individuals in middle school and high school the
most. Sexual and physical abuse has also been shown to increase the risk of developing an eating
disorder
Health Complications
An eating disorder is detrimental to your mental health but it can also be damaging to
one's physical health. Studies indicate that eating disorders distort the victims ability to function
in an emotionally normal way, and they can harm the heart, digestive system, bones, and
teeth and mouth, and lead to other diseases. (Eating Disorders, 2018). Other problems that
RISK COMPONENTS OF EATING DISORDERS
5
arise from eating disorders include infertility, tooth decay, rickets and other diseases caused
by vitamin deficiency, heart disease, and stroke. The complications caused by obtaining an
eating disorder can be severe and in some cases life threatening. The longer an eating
disorder persists, the more likely it is to develop an array of issues. Issues such as the health
problems mentioned above, substance use disorders, social and relationship problems,
problems with growth and development, work and school issues, suicidal thoughts and
behavior, and death. This is why medical professionals urge those affected by these disorders
to be treated sooner than later.
Conclusion
It is widely realized that eating disorders do not have a single cause but a multiplex of
various factors, distorted vision of oneself, and negative [Link] at first it may seem
that an eating disorder is solely focused on food and body image, those suffering almost
indefinitely are affected by the factors discussed throughout the review, genetics,
psychological, and sociocultural factors. Other factors not covered throughout the review are
interpersonal, biological, environmental, and stress factors. A common misconception about
eating disorders is that it is a lifestyle choice whereas in reality it is often a result of pre
existing conditions (Eating Disorders 2010). Despite the numerous discoveries that have
been made on the contributing factors, there is still much to be researched. The risk
components and complications of eating disorders are broad yet they have been helpful in
preventive measures and treatments.
RISK COMPONENTS OF EATING DISORDERS
6
Resources
Berrettini, W. (2004, November). The genetics of eating disorders. Retrieved from
[Link]
McGuire, J., & McGuire, J. (2017, October 9). Genetic Factors Behind Eating Disorders.
Retrieved from [Link]
(n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]
Holland, L. A., Bodell, L. P., & Keel, P. K. (2013, September). Psychological factors predict
eating disorder onset and maintenance at 10-year follow-up. Retrieved from
[Link]
“Eating Disorders.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22
Feb. 2018,
[Link]/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20353603.
Polivy1, Janet, and C. Peter Herman21Department. “Causes of Eating Disorders.” Annual
Reviews, [Link]/doi/abs/10.1146/[Link].53.100901.135103.
RISK COMPONENTS OF EATING DISORDERS
7
Chadda, R., Malhotra, S., Asad, A. G., & Bambery, P. (1987, April). Socio-cultural factors in
anorexia nervosa. Retrieved from [Link]
Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved from
[Link]