At this time, no definite cause of anorexia nervosa has been determined.  However, research within the medical and psychological fields continues to explore possible causes.

Some experts feel that demands from society and families could possibly be underlying causes for anorexia.  For many individuals with anorexia, the destructive cycle begins with the pressure to be thin and attractive.  A poor self-image compounds the problem.

Other researchers feel that this disorder can stem from a particular dysfunction often seen in families of anorexia patients.  In one particular type of dysfunction, family members become so interdependent that each cannot achieve their identity as an individual.  Thus, family members are unable to function as healthy individuals and are dependent on other family members for their identity.  In children, part of this dysfunction includes a fear of growing up (especially girls).  Restrictive dieting may prevent their bodies from developing in a normal manner, and in their thinking, restricts the maturational process and maintain the parent-child relationship that the family has come to rely on.  Other family situations that been suggested, but not proven, as possibly being related to the development of anorexia nervosa include: high parental expectations, poor communication skills, and problems with conflict management.

Some studies suggest that a genetic (inherited) component may play a role in determining a person’s susceptibility to anorexia.  Researchers are currently attempting to identify the particular gene or genes that might affect a person’s tendency to develop this disorder.

Approximately 95% of those affected by anorexia are female, but males can develop the disorder as well.  In the U.S. and other countries with high economic status, it is estimated that about one out of every 100 adolescent girls has the disorder.  Caucasians are more often affected than people of other racial backgrounds, and anorexia is more common in middle and upper socioeconomic groups.  According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 0.5% to 3.7% of women will suffer from this disorder at some point in their lives.

Anorexia nervosa is one type of eating disorder.  It is also a psychological disorder or condition that goes beyond out-of-control dieting.  A person with anorexia initially begins dieting to lose weight.  Over time, the weight loss becomes a sign of mastery and control where the drive to become thinner is actually secondary to concerns about control and/or fears related to one’s body.  The individual enters a continuous endless cycle of restrictive eating often to a point close to starvation in order to fell a sense of control over their body.  This cycle becomes an obsession similar to any type of drug or substance addiction.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BBD) is classified as a type of chronic mental illness that permeates a persons thinking making them believe that they have a flaw with their appearance.  This flaw may or may not exist and often is very minor, but to the person can be very distressing. 

To a person with body dysmorphic disorder there is an intense obsession with their appearance and body image. Often a person with BBD will wake up worrying about their appearance and spend countless hours obsessing over their weight, nose, hair, etc.  Body dysmorphic disorder is a serious disorder that is becoming a pervasive problem in adolescent girls and some boys.

Generally, when we speak of body dysmorphic disorders we think of two of its complications which are Anorexia and Bulimia.  This month these two complications will be our focus and in coming months we’ll tackle other complications of BDD such as, self-mutilation, obsessive-compulsive disorders, social isolation, difficulty attending work or school and lack of close relationships.