Anorexia - Who's at risk?

Anorexia

Who's at risk of getting anorexia?

Certain things can increase your chances of getting anorexia. They're called risk factors. Here is a list of some of them.

Being female. For every man who gets anorexia, 10 women get it.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹
Having mental health problems that affect your mood, such as depression and anxiety (intense worry) or

obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a psychological illness. People who have it can't keep certain thoughts out of their mind. Or they feel they have to do certain things all the time, such as washing their hands. This makes it hard for them to live a normal life.

obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹

Source:
Mehler PS.
Diagnosis and care of patients with anorexia nervosa in primary care settings.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 2001; 134: 1048-1059.

²

Source:
American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders.
Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.
3rd edition. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; 2009.

³

Source:
Fairburn CG, Cooper Z, Doll HA, Welch SL.
Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: three integrated case-control comparisons.
Archives of General Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 468-476.

⁴
Having a job or hobby that makes you feel that you have to be thin. Ballet dancers, gymnasts and models are under a lot of pressure to be thin.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹

Source:
Mehler PS.
Diagnosis and care of patients with anorexia nervosa in primary care settings.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 2001; 134: 1048-1059.

²

Source:
American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders.
Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.
3rd edition. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; 2009.

³

Source:
Fairburn CG, Cooper Z, Doll HA, Welch SL.
Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: three integrated case-control comparisons.
Archives of General Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 468-476.

⁴ For men, sports like bodybuilding and wrestling increase the risk of getting anorexia.

Source:
American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders.
Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.
3rd edition. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; 2009.

³
Having low self-esteem. Thinking you're no good at anything or won't amount to anything increases your chances of getting anorexia.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹
Wanting to be perfect and accepting nothing less.

Source:
American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders.
Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.
3rd edition. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; 2009.

³

Source:
Fairburn CG, Cooper Z, Doll HA, Welch SL.
Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: three integrated case-control comparisons.
Archives of General Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 468-476.

⁴

Source:
Shafran R, Mansell W.
Perfectionism and psychopathology: a review of research and treatment.
Clinical Psychology Review. 2001; 21: 879-906.

⁵
Being unhappy with your weight and shape.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹
Getting teased by others about your body.

Source:
Mehler PS.
Diagnosis and care of patients with anorexia nervosa in primary care settings.
Annals of Internal Medicine. 2001; 134: 1048-1059.

²

Source:
Fairburn CG, Cooper Z, Doll HA, Welch SL.
Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: three integrated case-control comparisons.
Archives of General Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 468-476.

⁴
Being white and financially well off.

Source:
American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders.
Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.
3rd edition. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; 2009.

³
Feeling grief or deep sadness that you can't get rid of, about something bad that happened.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹
Being sexually abused as a child.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹
Having eating problems as a child.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹
Inheriting certain genes.

Source:
Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.
Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.
Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

¹ Having a female relative with anorexia in your immediate family, especially an identical twin, increases your chance of getting anorexia.

Source:
American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders.
Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.
3rd edition. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; 2009.

³

Source:
Fairburn CG, Cooper Z, Doll HA, Welch SL.
Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: three integrated case-control comparisons.
Archives of General Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 468-476.

⁴

Sources for the information on this page:

Jacobi C, Hayward C, de Zwaan M, et al.Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy.Psychological Bulletin. 2004; 130: 19-65.

Mehler PS.Diagnosis and care of patients with anorexia nervosa in primary care settings.Annals of Internal Medicine. 2001; 134: 1048-1059.

American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders.Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders.3rd edition. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; 2009.

Fairburn CG, Cooper Z, Doll HA, Welch SL.Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: three integrated case-control comparisons.Archives of General Psychiatry. 1999; 56: 468-476.

Shafran R, Mansell W.Perfectionism and psychopathology: a review of research and treatment.Clinical Psychology Review. 2001; 21: 879-906.

This information was last updated on Feb 09, 2009

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