Factors that may contribute to eating disorders

The underlying causes of  these emotionally and physically damaging conditions are the control of food to cope with feelings and emotions, isolation, depression, stress, loneliness, loosing social competences and feeling in control of one’s own life. For example, people having illnesses for longer time are quitted from work or school work and their mental and physical health, self-esteem and sense of competence are evidently damaged. Cultural pressures that place values on having “perfect” body are also among the causing factors. Eating disorders may have stabilizing roles in a family as their symptoms are considered positive feedbacks which deflect attention from other health problems.

Series of research were published analysing the types, symptoms and diagnosis of abnormal eating habits (Túry and Pászty, 2008). In the followings we will be dealing with few of these diseases.