There are many theories about what causes eating disorders and for each person the reason can be different. However, most eating disorders are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors and sometimes the cause may not be completely clear.

Biological

• A family history of anorexia, bulimia and/or binge eating disorder may make certain people more at risk to have an eating disorder because of their genes or family upbringing
• Chemicals in the brain that control hunger, digestion, and appetite
• Hormones (such as leptin and ghrelin) that control satiety and hunger

Psychological

• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Past or current trauma such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Desire to have control over some aspect of life
• Inability to control behaviors
• Personality traits such as perfectionism (wanting to be perfect), extreme desire to succeed, and impulsivity (doing things without planning or considering the consequences)
• Family values about body size, appearance and food
• Low self-esteem or self-worth
• Sense of loss

Environmental

• Society’s intense focus on thinness and dieting
• Participation in sports that focus on body shape and size such as dancing, rowing, gymnastics, track, wrestling, etc.
• Abusive or troubled relationships that cause emotional stress and feelings of loss of control
• Stress at school, sports, with peer groups, etc.
• Specific cultural attitudes about how a woman/man should look and behave

You can’t tell whether a person is struggling with an eating disordered just by looking at them, but there are often warning signs. Warning signs or “red flags” might suggest that a young person may develop or already has an eating disorder. Below are lists of signs that are linked to certain types of eating disorders. A person who has an eating disorder may have one or more of these signs. These signs may also mean that a person has another kind of health condition, so it’s best to talk with a trusted adult about your concerns before jumping to any conclusions.

Red flags for Anorexia Nervosa:

• Skips meals
• Makes excuses not to eat
• Over-exercises (makes exercise a top priority)
• Eats only “safe” foods (low calorie, low-fat)
• Doesn’t eat certain food groups (ex. carbs, fats)
• Has unusual behaviors around food (organizing food, cutting food into small pieces, always finding something wrong with food, pushing food around the plate)
• Cooks or bakes food for others but doesn’t eat it
• Watches food shows or visits food websites constantly
• Obsessively reads nutrition information or counts calories
• Constantly weighs themselves, or “body checks” (looks at their body in the mirror or feels their body with their hands)
• Chews a lot of gum or drinks large amounts of water, coffee, diet soda, or calorie-free beverages
• Denies that there is a problem despite weight loss
• Recent switch to vegan/vegetarianism
• Withdraws from social gatherings involving food

Red flags for Bulimia Nervosa:

• Uses the bathroom after eating or in the middle of meals
• Consumes unusually large amounts of food at one time
• Loses control around food
• Has scars or calluses on hands and knuckles from using their finger to vomit
• Hides food or empty wrappers
• Diets often
• Food may be missing from cabinets at home or disappears rapidly

Red flags for Binge Eating Disorder:

• Frequently eats large amounts of food in one sitting
• Loses control around food
• Eats when not hungry
• Eats alone, often eats in secret
• Eats as a way to control emotions
• Hides food or empty wrappers
• Others notice food disappearing rapidly
• May hoard food