There are many theories about why women develop anorexia
nervosa and bulimia. Here are the main factors:
·
Family conflict;
·
Fear of growing up and becoming a sexually
mature woman;
·
The need to establish self-control;
·
Bulimic symptoms can be a way of dealing with
powerful negative feelings about oneself;
·
Major traumas can trigger anorexia or bulimia as
a means of silently crying for help, especially if the trauma is disempowering;
and
·
People with eating disorders tend to be high
achievers who set impossible standards for themselves, and often lack
assertiveness and a sense of identity.
Most
people who work with anorexic and bulimic women believe that their problems are
extremely complex and are not simply caused by one specific factor. Eating
disorders cannot be understood without looking closely at women’s lives as well
as the unique personal experiences of each sufferer.
