Causes and risk factors of eating disorders in adolescents

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There are two biological factors that cause eating disorders in adolescents or predispose them to the illness. The first factor is the genetic history of a family. According to experts, a family that has a history of having any eating disorder puts people in subsequent generations at a higher risk of suffering the same (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012). In addition, the kind of upbringing a family adopts can also lead to someone suffering from any type of eating disorder.

The second factor is brain activity. According to experts, the brain produces certain chemical substances that regulate important processes such as digestion, feelings of hunger, and desire for food. Depending on one’s brain activity, an individual can suffer from any of the four categories of eating disorders (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012).

Psychological factors also cause eating disorders or predispose adolescents to the illness. According to experts, the psychological condition of an adolescent can influence their eating habits, which eventually lead to a disorder (Fairburn, 2008). Some of the psychological factors that cause eating disorders include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, societal values, individual traits, lack of self control, traumatic experiences (Herrin & Larkin, 2013).

According to experts, the pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity caused by depression often make people to change their eating habits. Some people start eating too much food, while others tend to reduce the amount of food they take.

Depression also makes adolescents to skip a meal, as they lose their emotional control when around food. Anxiety is another psychological factor that can cause eating disorders in adolescents (Fairburn, 2008). Psychiatrists argue that adolescents often experience cycles of worry and nervousness, which influence their eating habits. Adolescents are also prone to suffering from low self-esteem issues.

This is mainly caused by peer pressure for one to achieve perfection (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012). Societal or family values also influence on the eating habits of adolescents. Societies that hold a lot of value on elements such as body size, physical appearance and certain food types influence on the development of eating disorders among adolescents.

Environmental factors also cause eating disorders in adolescents or predispose them to the illness. In this context, the environment refers to the totality of conditions surrounding adolescents (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012). The conditions surrounding adolescents, both at home and schools often affect the kind of foods they will eat.

Some of the environmental factors that cause eating disorders include societal values, cultural attitudes, troubled relationships, and nature of activities one engages in among others (Hornbacher, 2009). According to experts, the values that a society places on an individual being thin or fat create an environment that creates bias towards people with certain body types.

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Cultural attitudes regarding the ideal physical image of a man or woman also cause eating disorders among adolescents. During adolescence, many people start developing a certain degree of consciousness towards their body image (Fairburn, 2008). Most adolescents aim at meeting or bettering the standards set by a society regarding how someone should look like. This affects their eating habits, which in turn results in the development of a disorder.

Troubled relationships can lead to someone suffering from effects such as depression, which often influence on an individual’s eating habits (Hornbacher, 2009). A highly stressful environment can make someone to either consume a lot of food or vice versa.

Experts also argue that the kind of activities that adolescents pick out in schools also influence their eating habits. Those who engage in sports, athletics, and dancing are often conscious about staying fit and may avoid eating certain foods (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012). Those who choose to engage in less active engagements have little worry over their eating habits.

Treating eating disorders

According to experts, eating disorders are treated according to their type and symptoms. The best treatment option for eating disorders is therapy, whereby a patient gets to express themselves and learn a few things about nutrition (Herrin & Larkin, 2013). In some instances, patients