

Still, people of any age can develop this eating disorder, though it's rare in those over 40. However, boys and men have increasingly developed eating disorders, possibly related to growing social pressures.Īnorexia is also more common among teenagers. Peer pressure may help fuel the desire to be thin, particularly among young girls.Īnorexia is more common in girls and women. Success and worth are often equated with being thin. Modern Western culture emphasizes thinness. And they may have high levels of anxiety and engage in restrictive eating to reduce it. They may have an extreme drive for perfectionism, which causes them to think they're never thin enough. Some people with anorexia may have obsessive-compulsive personality traits that make it easier to stick to strict diets and forgo food despite being hungry. Some people may have a genetic tendency toward perfectionism, sensitivity and perseverance - all traits associated with anorexia.

Although it's not yet clear which genes are involved, there may be genetic changes that make some people at higher risk of developing anorexia. As with many diseases, it's probably a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors. If you're hiding your anorexia from loved ones, try to find a person you trust to talk to about what's going on. If you're experiencing any of the problems listed above, or if you think you may have an eating disorder, get help. If you have a loved one you're worried about, urge her or him to talk to a doctor. Their desire to remain thin overrides concerns about their health. Unfortunately, many people with anorexia don't want treatment, at least initially. Complaining about being fat or having parts of the body that are fat.Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws.Fear of gaining weight that may include repeated weighing or measuring the body.Lying about how much food has been eaten.


