It's a common misconception that eating disorders are borne solely out of a desire to fit a particular beauty standard. Certainly, there's no argument against the fact that societal pressures to look a specific way exist. And these allow for the corrosive effects of diet culture that can—and do—impact many people's self-esteem as well as their overall feelings toward eating and their bodies. Even so, experts say the driving forces behind eating disorders are often numerous and wholly separate from any concept of vanity.
It can be a perfect storm
Anna Brown, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist who serves as the clinical director at the Eating Recovery Center in the Woodlands, Texas, noted that eating disorders are most often caused by a combination of biological, psychological, environmental and social factors.
"I like to help people understand there's never one thing that leads someone to have an eating disorder—it's always a combination of factors, the sort of perfect storm, if you will," Brown said.
The term "eating disorder" refers to a set of complex and often life-threatening mental health conditions, which involve unhealthy eating habits due to disturbances in an individual's thoughts, behaviors and attitudes toward food and body image. An estimated 20 million women and 10 million men—about 10 percent of the adult population in the United States—have suffered from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
"The best way to kind of think about that is, you know, you could have two people who were kind of exposed to the same type of environment, whether that's how they were raised, or they're in the same sorority or on the same sports team or whatever," Brown said. "But one struggles with how they manage that environment and the other one doesn't, right? And that has to do more with what's happening internally for them. If we were all vulnerable to what the media tells us, then everyone would have an eating disorder, and that's just not true."
An attempt to cope
For many people, disordered eating is part of a misdirected attempt to cope with their emotions.
"Our emotional world, our psychological world, can certainly be vulnerable," Brown said. "Some of us experience emotions really differently than others, and for some, emotions can feel really overwhelming. And eating disorders have a way of helping people feel like they can navigate their emotions differently."
For someone struggling with an eating disorder, restricting their food intake, binging and purging can feel like effective ways to cope: These acts help them get rid of feelings they are having a tough time managing, Brown explained. "Restricting or binging and purging can help them sort of numb out the emotions that are overwhelming them."
It's important to note, though, that the feeling of relief or numbness that comes from these behaviors will always be fleeting—not to mention that untreated eating disorders are detrimental to long-term mental health and can cause serious and even fatal physical health complications.
Eating disorders can affect all aspects of a person's life, from their personal well-being to their ability to fulfill daily responsibilities and maintain meaningful relationships with those around them. Medical experts have also found that eating disorders can lead to an increased risk of erectile dysfunction and can have damaging effects on your sex life in general.
Fighting isolation and getting help
One of the most insidious characteristics of eating disorders is they often lead to isolation.
Brianna Donahue, a clinician and clinical intake coordinator at the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA), said one of the most common warning signs that you or a loved one may be dealing with an eating disorder is if you increasingly find yourself withdrawing and disconnecting.
"One of the main warning signs we see are skipping meals and isolation in general," Donahue said. "Since so many social functions revolve around food, people struggling with an eating disorder may increasingly avoid those situations and find excuses to be out of the house during meal times or withdraw from activities they would typically do with friends and family."
Even though it may be hard to feel hope or the desire to connect with yourself and others when you're in the depths of an eating disorder, rest assured help is available. The first step is always the hardest, but acknowledging the issue can lead you to the support you need to recover and take care of yourself.
You can find an eating disorder screening survey on NEDA's website, a national database of eating disorder treatment providers, along with a hotline where you can get support from a professional.
A list of free eating disorder recovery support groups can also be found on MEDA's website, along with groups for parents and family members of those suffering from an eating disorder.
Chelsea Kronengold, the communications lead for the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), said one step that everyone can take to contribute to a healthier attitude toward eating and body image is to educate yourself about the reality and severity of eating disorders.
"If we start with learning, then we would all understand how important it is to be mindful about the way we talk and think about how we look or how other people look because we would understand the effects our thoughts and words can have," Kronengold explained. "Education also helps us learn about healthier ways to cope with our emotions in a way that is productive rather than harmful."