Causes of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is a complex eating disorder . It stems from biologic, environmental/social and psychological factors. It can affect both men and women, though statistics have proven that it affects women more often. Many professionals believe that pre-pubescent patients who develop anorexia do so in an effort to compensate for their inability to control their own lives. These patients seem to lack autonomy and feel that the only control they have is what they place into their body. Having control over their food intake and body weight allows for these patients to exert their autonomy in an altered fashion. Another common cause of anorexia nervosa is the body image that has been paraded around in magazines and in Hollywood. The notion that women/men who are a size 0 are normal, and that women who are a size 6 are overweight is an unacceptable perception of the average women/man. Today’s society has set the standard for poor self-image and unattainable expectations. While there have yet to be any published studies on this specific relationship, there have been many personal interviews of those who are in recovery from anorexia that have identified this reason as the root of their disease. Other environmental factors that may contribute to the development of anorexia nervosa include the societal expectation for thin individuals to be a job duty.