Eating Disorders Causes & Risk Factors

Eating disorders are more common in women than men. However, men account for approximately five to 15 percent of people with anorexia and bulimia. The percentage of men who have binge eating disorder is even higher - as many as 35 percent of all cases... Full Answer

Both men and women may develop an eating disorder; however some groups are more at risk than others. About 90 to 95 percent of all people with anorexia or bulimia are women. Athletes who must control their weight such as dancers and gymnasts are... Full Answer

A five-year study of 2516 teens by the American Psychological Association found that girls who frequently read dieting and weight loss articles are far more likely to fast, vomit, or use laxatives to lose weight. In fact, the data found that the... Full Answer

It's tempting to blame psychological problems or an unhealthy family dynamic when someone develops an eating disorder -- but researchers say that the real reasons are very different. In this video, Dr. Walter Kaye, of NORMAL nonprofit, discusses... Full Answer

Female athletes who compete in sports that emphasize appearance, weight, or require speed, lightness, agility and quickness are at higher risk for developing an eating disorder than are non-athletes, or athletes in sports that require muscle mass and... Full Answer

Approximately 63% of all female athletes develop symptoms of an eating disorder in high school. Female athletes report higher frequencies of eating disorders than male athletes. The research has found that athletes, compared with non-athletes,... Full Answer

At a very young age, our intake of food and our emotions start becoming intertwined. How many small children are given ice cream as comfort when they are crying or a cupcake because they were “good” and deserve a reward? Then, when you get... Full Answer

Athletes, especially in "make-weight" sports, are particularly vulnerable to developing eating disorders. "Make-weight" sports are either formal (you must achieve a certain scale weight to compete in a weight class like wrestling or boxing) or... Full Answer

No, definitely not. There is more and more pressure for guys to have the "inverted Y " shape with the broad shoulders and narrow waist. The men’s magazines are just as dangerous as the women's telling guys how they should look. Men have a 0.3%... Full Answer

Some 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States suffer from the eating disorders anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Many of them have perfectionist tendencies in terms of diet, exercise, body image, and weight. An international... Full Answer