Many of us have a general awareness of what anorexia is but far fewer have an idea of what causes someone to experience this eating disorder.
It is a condition where a lot of misconceptions and inaccuracies tend to persist, which then leads to someone not getting the help they need to recover from this debilitating condition soon enough.
What are the causes of anorexia nervosa and what symptoms signal that you meet the diagnosis criteria for anorexia?
Here is a look at some key points to consider.
What is anorexia nervosa?
A good starting point would be to take a look at a basic definition of anorexia nervosa.
It is an eating disorder that typically involves a patient experiencing unhealthy weight loss. Another typical symptom is when someone is exercising compulsively and is punishing their body to excessive limits because they are unable to regulate their levels of exercise.
What triggers anorexia?
It is far more complicated to give a straightforward answer as to what triggers anorexia. For some people, it could be the emotional challenges they are facing or an unhealthy environment that is driving them to develop the symptoms of anorexia as a coping mechanism.
Body image distress is another key trigger. In the age of social media, many feel pressured to develop the “perfect body” and the condition takes hold as a result of the emotional distress they are feeling by not looking the way they want to.
There are key biological and environmental factors that can increase your propensity to develop anorexia. Every person is different. That means the emotional trigger that leads to anorexia will vary according to your genetic makeup and emotional health profile.
Emotional and social factors
It is abundantly clear that emotional trauma can play a key role in developing anorexia. If someone is experiencing emotional abuse such as bullying, or becomes exposed to traumatic circumstances such as a relationship breakdown, these could lead to developing an eating disorder.
Social factors such as isolation and a lack of family support can also lead to the development of anorexia.
Your personality can play a key role
A person who has a history of dieting or resorting to weight-control methods can often be at a heightened risk of developing anorexia.
It has also been shown that someone with autistic features also has a higher chance of developing an eating disorder.
Perfectionism is also shown to play a key role when it comes to developing anorexia. When someone feels compelled to achieve what they perceive to be the perfect body image this can often trigger the development of an eating disorder.
Social and cultural pressures to have a small body can often become overwhelming and when these pressures are combined with low self-esteem issues they can easily lead to developing anorexia for some people.
It is always advisable to seek a professional healthcare diagnosis for anorexia. A physical and mental health examination will enable an accurate diagnosis and allow for the right treatment to be offered.
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