In Canada, eating disorders are on the rise, with the data suggesting the rate to be high as 18% in adolescent girls. Comparatively, the rate of obesity among the same demographic is 9%. The term eating disorder is an umbrella term that refers to a range of psychological disorders dealing with abnormal eating habits. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the three main types that are usually encountered and with teenagers, these eating disorders can overlap. That is to say, teens may have alternate between periods of bulimia and anorexia. Predictably, most of the victims of eating disorders are girls, but as many as 15-20% of boys also suffer from bulimia and anorexia, as well. Research has proven eating disorders to have the highest mortality
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Nevertheless, research suggests that eating disorders are to some extent, biologically based. A recent University of Iowa study finds that genetic mutations in two different genes resulted in an 85-90% chance of the person developing an eating disorder (Lutter et al., 2013). Michael Lutter, the senior author of the study, also adds that the remaining fraction may have been just too young to develop an eating disorder. While both mutations are rare, they do prove a basis for the argument that eating disorders are a biologically-based chronic mental illness. However, Lutter also admits that environmental factors contribute almost equally to fostering these disorders, stating that the risk of developing an eating disorder is 50-70% genetic and 30-50% environmental. To illustrate the role of genetics, it is commonly noted that eating disorders may run in families; girls that have a parent or sibling with an eating disorder are at a greater risk of developing one themselves (Goldberg, …show more content…
Furthermore, while the numbers place boys in the minority for eating disorders, it is noticed that male eating disorders are often unreported or overlooked. Hence, while the percentage of males suffering from bulimia and anorexia sits at 15-20%, it may be higher. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2004) has published research that attributes males not seeking treatment to feelings of shame for having a stereotypically female disorder. So, it is interesting to note that most instances of men with eating disorders occur in homosexual men and they weigh significantly less than heterosexual men. This phenomenon may be explained by the cultural pressure to be thin within the homosexual community (Schlitz).
To conclude, the two main eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia do not have a set list of causes as they matter case-to-case. However, there are factors that seem contribute to these eating disorders, including, but not limited to: environment, genetics, company, family history with eating disorders, drive for thinness, social values of thinness, distorted body image, troubles in life, desire to be loved and happy, emotional disorders, painful childhood experiences, drive for perfection and the media. In bulimic victims, there is a relationship with childhood sexual abuse and their eating
Nevertheless, research suggests that eating disorders are to some extent, biologically based. A recent University of Iowa study finds that genetic mutations in two different genes resulted in an 85-90% chance of the person developing an eating disorder (Lutter et al., 2013). Michael Lutter, the senior author of the study, also adds that the remaining fraction may have been just too young to develop an eating disorder. While both mutations are rare, they do prove a basis for the argument that eating disorders are a biologically-based chronic mental illness. However, Lutter also admits that environmental factors contribute almost equally to fostering these disorders, stating that the risk of developing an eating disorder is 50-70% genetic and 30-50% environmental. To illustrate the role of genetics, it is commonly noted that eating disorders may run in families; girls that have a parent or sibling with an eating disorder are at a greater risk of developing one themselves (Goldberg, …show more content…
Furthermore, while the numbers place boys in the minority for eating disorders, it is noticed that male eating disorders are often unreported or overlooked. Hence, while the percentage of males suffering from bulimia and anorexia sits at 15-20%, it may be higher. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2004) has published research that attributes males not seeking treatment to feelings of shame for having a stereotypically female disorder. So, it is interesting to note that most instances of men with eating disorders occur in homosexual men and they weigh significantly less than heterosexual men. This phenomenon may be explained by the cultural pressure to be thin within the homosexual community (Schlitz).
To conclude, the two main eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia do not have a set list of causes as they matter case-to-case. However, there are factors that seem contribute to these eating disorders, including, but not limited to: environment, genetics, company, family history with eating disorders, drive for thinness, social values of thinness, distorted body image, troubles in life, desire to be loved and happy, emotional disorders, painful childhood experiences, drive for perfection and the media. In bulimic victims, there is a relationship with childhood sexual abuse and their eating