Eating disorders have complex roots

In many cases, the family members will take on the blame, but this is not necessary. There is no research to indicate that families cause eating disorders or that families without eating disorder patients are somehow ‘more’ normal.

In truth, the causes that lead to eating disorders are complicated and probably have multiple factors involved, like:

• Genetics.
  
  
• Behavioral responses and habits in dealing with stress.
  
  
• Pressure by society to be slim.
  
  
• Mental disorders. Women who have anorexia seem to have tendencies toward: neuroticism, obsessive behaviors, perfectionism, and low self-esteem. However, the correlation is unclear and causation is not implied.