Anorexia nervosa risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Risk factors for anorexia nervosa include first-degree biological relatives with the disorder, anxiety disorder and obsessional traits in childhood, and negative self image among others.^[1] A recent epidemiological study of 989,871 Swedish residents indicated that gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status were large influences on the chance of developing anorexia, with those with non-European parents among the least likely to be diagnosed with the condition, and those in wealthy, white families being most at risk.^[2]

Risk factors[edit | edit source]

• Female gender
• White ethnicity
• High socio-economic status
• Being more worried about, or paying more attention to weight and shape
• Certain social or cultural ideas about health and beauty
• First-degree biological relatives of individuals with the disorder^[1]
• Having a negative self-image
• Having an anxiety disorder as a child
• Having eating problems during infancy or early childhood
• Monozygotic twins^[1]
• Obsessional traits in childhood^[1]
• Occupations and avocations that encourage thinness^[1]

• Elite athletics^[1]

• Modeling^[1]

• Trying to be perfect or overly focused on rules

References[edit | edit source]

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