The Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

THE CAUSES OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA

By simply glancing through almost any current magazine or newspaper, one can find articles on one of the most prevalent disorders in today's modern society, namely, anorexia nervosa, a well-known eating disorder which is primarily seen in teenage girls and women under the age of twenty- five. Anorexia nervosa is usually linked to some kind of emotional stress or personal conflict, such as anxiety, irritation, anger and fear, all of which "may accompany a major change in a person's life related to family, career and one's role in society" (Glanze, 1990, 69). According to Barbara Wolfe, exactly what causes anorexia nervosa is not presently known, yet it is clear that the disorder is closely related to genetics, the environment and the biochemistry of those afflicted with it. As Wolfe explains it, anorexia nervosa tends "to run in families with female relatives most often affected." A female "has a 10 to 20 times higher risk of developing anorexia nervosa. . . if she has siblings with the disease" and recent findings suggest that "genetic factors may predispose some people to eating disorders." But most importantly, "behavioral and environmental influences may also play a role," along with "stressful events (which) are likely to increase the risk of eating disorders" ("Anorexia Nervosa," 2007, Internet). Since anorexia nervosa is so widely talked about and studied by scientists and researchers all over the world, those who are affected with this disorder sometimes find themselves the center of attention in the mass media, due to their celebrity status and the idea that they may be affected with this type of eating disorder. One good example is Mary-Kate Olsen who has been fighting this disorder for a number of years. Many photographs of Ms. Olsen show her to be quite thin and apparently undernourished, two important physical traits linked to this disorder. Hopefully, for those like Ms. Olsen, the true causes of anorexia nervosa may someday be discovered which would help a great deal in finding a long-lasting if not permanent cure. REFERENCES Glanze, Walter D., Ed., et al. (1990). Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary. St. Louis, MO: C.V. Mosby Company. Wolfe, Barbara. (2007). "Anorexia Nervosa." National Alliance on Mental Health. Internet. Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=ByIllness&template= /ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7409.