Post Brittany Ness's Post: A Case Study

Many people are unaware of the background of eating disorders. Women are more likely than men to develop an eating disorder and they usually develop in childhood before the age of 20 (Ross-Flanigan 1). Women as well as men can develop an eating disorder; it is just more likely for a woman to develop one. Eating disorders are usually developed in adolescent or childhood years when a person is influenced the most. Also “Eating disorders are psychological conditions that involve overeating, voluntary starvation, or both. Anorexia nervosa, anorexic bulimia, and binge eating are the most well-known types of eating disorders” (Ross-Flanigan 1). Many people assume that an eating disorder is when a person staves themselves; they do not realize that it can involve overeating as well. Some eating disorders also involve purging, but not all. People with an eating disorder fear gaining weight even when they are severely underweight. They do not lack an appetite (Ross-Flanigan 1). These people are

Thesis statement: Young adults and adolescents are the ones who are the most susceptible to develop an eating disorder. The exact causes for eating disorders might vary with every person, but the most controversial ones are social media, unhealthy eating habits and genetics.

“Twenty million women and ten million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life”(What are Eating Disorders, 2016). What can cause a person to develop an eating disorder? The type of significant amount of eating would include bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. There are other eating disorders that cause dramatic weight loss such as anorexia nervosa. “According to the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, the risk of developing an eating disorder is from fifty to eighty percent determined by genetics” (Parks 46). Thirty percent of people develop an eating disorder through a traumatic incident such as rape or abuse. There can be other causes to developing an eating disorder. This can be biological factors, sociological factors, and psychological and emotional health. Biological factors can include a person’s brain chemistry, age, gender and genetics; the genes passed on from one or both parents. Adolescents and females are most

Triggers for developing eating disorders have been found to be similar between the sexes: low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, difficulty coping with emotional and personal problems, and other existing psychological illnesses are common underlying factors in the development of disordered eating ((3)).

We know that eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior and extreme concern about body size or weight. We also know that eating disorders can be life-threatening if treatment is not provided or is not effective. But we do not completely understand what causes eating disorders. Generally, scientists believe they arise from a complex interaction of genetic, psychological, and sociocultural factors (Smolin and Mary Grosvenor, 42).

Biological and familial influences can lead specifically to early-age distortion eating disorders. When compared with mothers of daughters in a non- clinical control group, mothers of adolescent girls with disordered eating patterns showed greater eating disturbance, had a longer history of dieting, and wanted their daughters to lose more weight (Pike and Rodin,

An eating disorder has complex origins. Although most people think that an obsession with weight and appearance leads to this deadly disease, this is merely the surface issue. Along with the ultimate need for control, other causes can be genetic factors, parental influence, behavioral influence, environmental influence, and biochemistry. Many studies have found that eating disorders run in families. Almost always, it is the closely related females in the family who are affected. Some researchers believe that negative parental influence can come from both the maternal and paternal sides. Mothers often comment on their daughters' appearance, whether on their physical shape or on their ability to dress well. So often simple motherly love turns into a psychological desire for their daughters to be what they were not. Studies have found that these

Abnormal eating habits can develop for many reason due to humans being very complex these can be psychological factors like low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and stress. Interpersonal factors like Physical or sexual abuse, long term ridicule about size or limited availability of food during childhood. Social factors and biological factors also have effects on eating habits, all these symptoms and signs can help anyone diagnose and help someone with an abnormal eating disorder and try to make them better. Some of the risk factors involved with abnormal eating habits can are found in teens and early 20’s and while they receive praise on their weight lose it can encourage them to lose more weight.

1Body Images, Eating Disorders, Cultural Imperialism1beauty is a motivation factors. Since looks are so important; and many adolescents are unhappy with their size and shape, teens with sever body image dissatisfaction, often begin to judge their worth and decide that they have to improve their image and themselves by dieting. "Social pressure that appear to be partly responsible for the number of eating-disordered adolescents" (Robinson, Stephen. March 5, 2010) Also, models who are generally thinner seem to set the standards for the ideal, although unrealistic body type.

There are many different biological approaches that explain the reasons for eating disorders they all have some validity behind them to a certain extent. An eating disorder is a psychological dysfunction that causes a person to change their eating habits to eating less, or more etc.

According to the NIH, they say “children adopt the habit from their parents.” Children who are raised by their parents will have the similar eating habit with their parents. The genes will decide how much fat you store in your body because family members share the daily life together and they are easily influenced by each other. Moreover, the CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) gives an example to support the opinion that genes will respond to the change of environment. They find the indirect evidence between twins and adopted children among the family member. The weight difference of variation is a result of the genetic

There are two theories that fit to explain the occurrence of eating disorder; these are that either emotions or biological defects are the cause of eating disorders. For instance, body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and social pressures all lead to an emotional distress (Parke, 2009). Following this distress, the child will tend to adopt a maladaptive coping strategy such as controlling their food intake (Parke, 2009). On the other hand, scientists have also found that eating disorders can also be biologically controlled where some children lack certain chemicals that control appetite, hunger, and digestion. Often, these chemicals are lacking or they are unbalanced in a child who develops an eating disorder (Hudson,

A good number of people have "strange" eating habits. Some show extremely picky behavior when it comes to food and some eat particular foods at particular times ("Eating Disorders," 2006). However, serious eating disorders can be categorized as follows:

Eating disorders stem from a combination of psychological, biological, and social factors. Feelings of depression and anxiety along with daily stressors can contribute to

Eating disorders tend to run in families and female relatives are the most often to be affected. Some recent studies from researchers found that mothers who are too concerned about their children’s weight and appearance, it may put them at increased risk of developing an eating disorder. (Hoffman). Ultimately, genetic research may prove to be the key to unlocking our understanding of environmental risk factors for eating disorders (Mazzeo and Bulik). Multiple studies have been undertaken to that show possible genetic likeliness toward developing eating disorders as a result of inheritance (News Medical).