Home 
Eating Disorders Eating Disorders & Adolescents Risk Factors
Eating Disorders Eating Disorders & Adolescents Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Risk factors are also referred to as potential ‘causes’ of an eating disorder. Eating disorders can occur across all ages and socio-economic groups, however there are certain groups, such as adolescents and young women, who demonstrate a higher incidence of eating disorders per capita.
Below is a list of potential risk factors for the development of an eating disorder which are standard across all age groups and genders. Individuals who display a number of these risk factors are considered to be at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder.
Psychological Factors
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of inadequacy
- Incidence of depression or anxiety
- Fear of the responsibility of adulthood
- A belief that love from family & friends is dependent on high achievement
- Poor communication between family members, or the reluctance of parents to allow appropriate degrees of independence as children mature
- Difficulty expressing emotions and feelings, particularly ‘negative’ emotions such as anger, sadness, anxiety or fear
- Ineffective coping strategies
- Perfectionism
- Fear or avoidance of conflict
- Competitiveness
- Impulsive or obsessive behaviours
- A need to please others
- Highly concerned with the opinions of others
- Prone to extremes, such as ‘black and white’ thinking
Social Factors
- Cultural value placed on ‘thinness’ as an inextricable part of beauty
- Current cultural emphasis on the need for a ‘perfect body’
- Valuing of people according to outward appearance and not inner qualities
- Media and popular culture's portrayal of men and women's shapes and bodies that are not representative of ‘real’ men and women
- Pressure to achieve and succeed
- Professions with an emphasis on body shape and size (eg. dancers, models, athletes)
Physiological/ Biological Factors
- Scientists are currently researching possible biochemical and biological factors and their role in the development of eating disorders. Research has indicated that in some people with eating disorders there is an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain
- Adolescence and the associated physical, hormonal and neural changes
- Genetic or familial factors, for example a person who is exposed to a parent or sibling with an eating disorder is at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder themselves. While no conclusive outcome has been reached, research has provided evidence that in some cases this is due to genetic predisposition - rather than just learned behaviour
External Factors
- Life events, particularly those involving major changes (eg. loss of a family member or friend, the divorce or separation of parents, moving schools or jobs)
- Dieting
- Peer pressure
- Inability to effectively deal with stress, whereby a person lacks adequate stress-management strategies
- Personal or family history of obesity, depression, substance abuse or eating disorders
- Troubled personal or family relationships
- Sexual or physical abuse
- History of teasing or bullying, particularly when based on weight or shape
Last revision date: Monday, 06 February 2012 11:00
