What Are The Causes of Eating Disorders?
There are many causes of eating disorders. They can range from Anorexia to Bulimia to Binge Eating Disorder. Some people are Compulsive Over eaters and may not have Binge Eating Disorder, the difference being the element of dissociation.
Types Of Eating Disorders
- Anorexia – Those who suffer with anorexia will typically have an obsessive fear of gaining weight, refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an unrealistic perception of body image.
- Bulimia – This eating disorder is characterized by repeated binge eating followed by behaviors that compensate for the overeating, such as forced vomiting, excessive exercise, or extreme use of laxatives or diuretics.
- Binge Eating Disorder – people check out, they lose the awareness that they are engaged in a binge.
- Compulsive Eater – This is an individual has gotten attached to unhealthy habits but is fully aware. Dissociation is also present in Bulimia during the binge. Dissociation makes treatment difficult and requires specialized care.
Causes of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can be caused or influenced by a number of factors, including a combination of biological, psychological, and/or environmental abnormalities.
Examples of these Factors:
- Biological Factors – Irregular hormone functions, genetics or nutritional deficiencies.
- Psychological Factors – Negative body image and Poor self-esteem.
- Environmental Factors – Dysfunctional family dynamic, professions and careers that promote being thin and weight loss, aesthetically oriented sports, family and childhood traumas (childhood sexual abuse, severe trauma), cultural and/or peer pressure among friends and co-workers, stressful life changes or transitions.
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I treat all types of Eating Disorders, and treat them as being caused by attachment wounds. Causes of eating disorders vary, but they can all be treated. You never have to feel like you are alone in this battle. I have successful treated a number of individuals who suffer from a variety of eating disorders. Click here to fill out my contact form.
Signs & Symptoms of an Eating Disorder
Signs and symptoms can vary from person to person. However, here is a generalized list of things to watch for.
- Chronic dieting despite being hazardously underweight
- Constant weight fluctuations
- Obsession with calories and fat contents of food
- Engaging in ritualistic eating patterns, such as cutting food into tiny pieces, eating alone, and/or hiding food
- Continued fixation with food, recipes, or cooking; the individual may cook intricate meals for others but refrain from partaking
- Depression or lethargic stage
- Avoidance of social functions, family, and friends. May become isolated and withdrawn
- Switching between periods of overeating and fasting