9 Root Causes Eating Disorders
9 Origins of Eating Disorders
If you want to learn why you have an eating disorder, this article is for you.
As a Holistic Wellness Coach and clinician of more than 10 years, I’ve seen clients with eating disorders. We’ve taken deep dives into their roots and I’ll tell you that healing was incredibly fruitful.
I’ll share with you 9 causes of eating disorders, as well as how you can get better.
What are the causes of eating disorders?
Eating disorders are caused by molecular genetics, family dynamics, toxic culture of society, childhood trauma, poor self-esteem, perfectionism, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, and disgust sensitivity.
Eating disorders encompass more than just food.
This mental health issue has many origins that we will explore in this article.
#1 Genetics
Long before you’re born and exposed to the world, one factor makes you vulnerable to eating disorders.
It's your heredity.
If you have the gene mutations called ESRRA and HDAC4, you’re more likely to develop an eating disorder.
#2 Family
Family dynamics also play a crucial role.
If you grew up in a dysfunctional family system, you’re more prone to developing an eating disorder.
Here are some factors that have a huge impact.
Emotional neglect
Treated as the family scapegoat
Exposed to marital conflict
Constantly shamed as a kid
Had overprotective and controlling parents
Expected to fulfill your parent’s dreams
Parent felt envious of your traits
Rarely talked to about life-changing events (ex: divorce, death, etc.)
Weren’t allowed to make mistakes and learn
Couldn’t express negative emotions.
Forced to be perfect all the time
Parents had unresolved trauma themselves
#3 Culture
Societal expectations also influence eating disorders.
The media and our culture put a heavy emphasis on thinness. Even sports require a certain body type.
They make you feel like being skinny was equal to being beautiful, successful, and accepted.
But, these are all unrealistic standards. Models and celebrities often undergo surgery or have their images edited.
#4 Trauma
If you experienced trauma as a child, this is also a cause of an eating disorder.
In this case, your illness is only a symptom of your unhealed developmental wounds. Here are different types of trauma that lead to it.
Grief
Bullying
Sexual assault
Physical abuse
Refugee trauma
Natural disasters
Medical trauma
#5 Low self-esteem
When heredity, dysfunctional family systems, toxic culture, and trauma are combined, it can lead to low self-worth.
As a child, you’re dependent on people around you.
You also assume that everyone else is right because you’re too young to decipher right from wrong.
Unhealthy beliefs into your mind.
It can make you believe that if you’re not thin, no one would want you. This leads us to the next number which is perfectionism.
#6 Perfectionism
If you have an eating disorder, you want to become perfect.
And, there’s actually a dark reason behind that.
You believe that you aren’t good enough, meaning you suffer from low self-esteem.
Don’t get me wrong.
Striving for excellence is a good thing. We all want to become the best version of ourselves.
But, you should be gentle and practice self-acceptance.
Trying to be thin despite paying the price for eating disorders is unhealthy.
#7 Emotional dysregulation
Knowing how to manage your emotions is learned from childhood.
But, if you’ve had dismissive and emotionally unavailable parents, you’re in trouble. You don’t have the resources to be resilient.
That’s why you cope by eating.
#8 Anxiety and/or depression
If you have anxiety and/or depression, you’re twice as likely to develop an eating disorder.
This is linked to your genes, experiences, personality, and upbringing.
You try to feel good through binge eating or limiting food intake.
But, these are self-destructive behaviors.
It’ll only lead to a loop of negative feelings and bad coping mechanisms.
#9 Disgust sensitivity
As for the last item on this list, I’ll talk about disgust.
If you’re sensitive to this emotion, you’re susceptible to eating disorders.
Disgust sensitivity mainly comes from two things: food and body image.
Just because you have an eating disorder, does not mean that this is the way you have to live for the rest of your life. Please seek professional life. In my career, I have helped individuals with eating disorders and seen them heal and live truely transformed lifes. We will be dealing with how to heal from eating disoders in another article.