Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa can be defined as an irrational fear of gaining weight coupled with a constant attempt to lose weight. Victims of anorexia nervosa display a dangerous obsession about thinness and are known to go to extremities to maintain a low body weight. The worst part of this affliction is that the more weight the victim loses, the more obsessive he / she gets about losing even more weight. The symptoms are difficult to spot in the beginning, and anorexics tend to deny their condition. However, as it worsens, the tell-tale signs of anorexia nervosa like dramatic weight loss, and a denial of being too thin start to appear.

There is no one specific cause for anorexia nervosa. It is though to be a result of various biological, emotional and social triggers. Research has shown that in some cases, a predisposition to anorexia may tend to run in families, thus making the disorder genetic. Another important part is played by the brain. Victims of anorexia nervosa have higher levels of cortisol, a hormone secreted by the brain that causes stress. Similarly, they also tend to show decreased levels of hormones such as serotonin and norepinephrine, the hormones associated with the feeling of well-being. Sometimes it is due to a result of a lack of confidence in one’s looks that can trigger an obsession for thinness. This cause is mostly seen in women. The trait of perfectionism too can play a part. If one is constantly obsessed with perfectionism, it might just as well translate into anorexia nervosa. In some cases, this condition may just be the result of an overly stressful life or even a huge emotional upheaval. The third factor, and the most important one at that, is society and its pressures. People, especially women, are under the constant pressure to look good, if not perfect. And when thinness is seen as a desirable feature in a woman, it only makes matters worse. Peer pressure is the biggest cause in cases of teens displaying signs of anorexia nervosa. An unhealthy obsession with activities such as ballet, gymnastics or modeling is also known to have resulted in anorexia nervosa.

Though the signs of low self esteem may not be obvious, anorexics view themselves through an excessively critical eye which can be very obvious. For example, an anorexic person may often lament over imagined weight gain. In addition to this, anorexics show an aversion to any and all food and often find excuses to separate themselves from others just before meals in order to avoid detection. This disorder should not be treated lightly and therapy is a must. In addition to this, family support is essential.