What are the causes of anorexia nervosa?
There are several causes of anorexia nervosa. According to Slowik (2011), one of the causes of anorexia nervosa is cultural pressure. He also mentions that nowadays societies always been under cultural pressure as they have a mindset that the beauty level for women is by being super thin. As a result of this unhealthy mindset, most anorexic patients may have been through hurtful experiences like being laughed at due to their appearances (Johnson, 2005). It becomes worse when these experiences cause them to feel that they are fat and this is the reason why they have to go through such painful moments (Johnson, 2005). Thus becoming an anorexic is seen to be the solution for this problem as they believe it would build a shield that can secure them from being teased or other like events (Johnson, 2005).
Besides, Slowik (2011) also states that in nowadays societies, success, happiness and self-control are always illustrated by being thin. Even though the media is not fully responsible for this nonsense illustration, media plays a big role that influences people and Slowik (2011) says that diet messages from this party always successfully received by women. Therefore, it can be said that anorexia nervosa happens since media always highlights that women need to control their food intake to stay slim and fulfill the current beauty level (Slowik, 2011).
Apart from the above factor, Slowik (2011) also points out that psychological issues may also be the reasons of anorexia nervosa. Examples of psychological issues that most anorexic patients have are low self-confidence, feeling of ineffectiveness, trouble to express their feelings and perfectionism (Slowik, 2011). According to Johnson (2005), these psychological issues can be found in other psychiatric disorders since anorexia nervosa is a kind of eating disorder and thus the causes behind these two disorders are actually similar. Johnson (2005) also explains in most cases, anorexic patients believe that these issues are problems that should be solve. Unfortunately, the mistakenly consider that one of the ways to fix these problems is by self-starvation (Johnson, 2005).
In addition to this, Johnson (2005) also remarks the histories of sexual of physical abuse are also causes of anorexia nervosa. Such painful histories will cause the victims to start thinking steps that can save them and according to Slowik (2011), they usually assume that by being extremely thin can be a reason to eliminate themselves from the list of sexual and social demand connected with adolescence. Since saving their life become their priority, Johnson (2005) says that anorexic patients may do this consciously or unconsciously. Besides, in Slowik’s (2011) report, he also says that psychological issue may cause the anorexic patients to become emotional not only towards weight loss but also towards physical fitness and career.
Slowik (2011) also mentions that anorexia nervosa is also caused by family environment and background. As a credit to this statement, Johnson (2005) explains that most anorexic patients have been overly controlled by their parents. This situation then becomes a continuous disappointment that later drive them to fight for self-governing and individuality (Slowik, 2011). As they struggle for their independence, Johnson (2005) believes that some anorexics feel terribly uncontrollable over their lives and this feeling will eventually lead them to think that having control over their diet is such a great honor as it is their first original thought. Despite these controlling parents, Slowik (2011) also mentions that anorexia nervosa is caused by parents that set a very high standard over physical appearances and constantly criticize a child’s weight or shape.
Besides that, Slowik (2011) also declares that genetic factor is another factor that can cause anorexia nervosa. In Hirst’s (2002) report, he confirms that genetics carry an important part that may lead a person to have an eating disorder. In addition to this, he also highlights that one study has proven that fifty percent of the risk that causes anorexia nervosa is inherited. However, the exact inherited factor is not yet determine by experts (Slowik, 2011). In spite of that, Slowik (2011) declares that anorexia will appear eight times more often if a person comes from a family that have this disorder.
The other common cause of anorexia nervosa is life transition (Slowik, 2011). According to Johnson (2005), transition in life like during the early puberty can cause people to feel a loss of control. Some people are so scared to pass through this transition and they believe anorexia can defer the body changes (Johnson, 2005). Hirst (2002) also postulates that their unhealthy behavior will act as a pause button to stop or cease their normal menstrual cycle.
Besides, Johnson (2005) agrees that failure at school or work is another life transition that can leave a person to feel demolish. He declares that most people with this disorder are perfectionist that expect excellence in what they are doing but feel worthless after some failures and try to run off from this feeling. As a result, they feel that they need to do something to improve themselves and bring back their glory time but sadly this feeling accidentally make they feel that losing weight through self-starvation is the foremost move to be taken (Johnson, 2005).
References:
1) Jeremy Hirst
2) Craig Johnson
3) Guy Slowik
