Anorexia Symptoms

Anorexia symptoms need much more research in order for us to truly understand the nature and causes of anorexia and other eating disorders.  However, we do now know that several factors can play a part in the development of anorexia symptoms.  There may be no single root cause to the development of anorexia symptoms, but rather they are the result of many possible and contributing factors, such as the following:

1. A dysfunctional family or a family life that was very disruptive resulting in the need to exercise some kind of control and ending up with anorexia symptoms.

2. A chemical imbalance resulting in the growth of anorexia symptoms.

3. A genetic predisposition causing anorexia symptoms.

4. A traumatic event in the person’s history.

5. Sensitivity to educational messages about the “perfect body,” causing a person to develop anorexia symptoms

In addition, people with anorexia symptoms sometimes report that their anorexic behavior started out simply as a way to improve themselves. Anorexia often started with a diet which got way out of control. It may have been meant to help the person regain self-esteem. Some people develop anorexia symptoms as a way to cope with feelings that they and their life are beyond their control. If they control their food intake then they feel that they have some sort of control in a life which they feel they have little control over. Of course anorexia symptoms are signs that this has been taken to an extreme.