MenuNewsFeaturesReferenceFindaPsychiatristWhatIsAnorexia?CausesPrevention&RisksSymptomsDiagnosis&TreatmentAntidpressantsforAnorexiaSelf-CareAnxiety&PanicBingeEatingDisorderBulimiaNervosaCrisisAssistanceDepressionEatingDisordersMentalHealthStressManagementSubstanceAbuse&AddictionTeenHealthWomen'sHealthFindaPsychiatristMentalHealthEatingDisordersAnorexiaNervosaReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyJenniferCasarella, MDonSeptember11,2020ArticlesOnAnorexiaNervosaWhatIsAnorexia?CausesPrevention&RisksSymptomsDiagnosis&TreatmentAntidpressantsforAnorexiaSelf-CareIfyouknowsomeonewithanorexia,youmaywonderifyoucouldhavepreventedit.Thesimpleanswerisprobablynot.Doctorsdon’tknowwhatcausesanorexiaorhowtostopsomeonefromgettingit.Whattheydoknowiswhensomeonehasit,theydon’teatenoughfoodbecausethey’reoftentryingtobeperfectbybeingthin.Theydevelopsymptomsthatmakethemsickandeventhreatentheirlife.Who’satRiskforAnorexia?Eventhoughdoctorsdon’tknowwhysomeonegetsanorexia,theydoknowwhatmakesonepersonmorelikelytohaveitthananother,including:Beingfemale(eatingdisordersalsoaffectmales,butaremostcommoninyoungwomen)Higherchildhoodbodymassindex(bodyfatmeasurebasedonheightandweight)Heredityandgenes(eatingdisorderstendtoruninfamilies)AnabnormalfunctioningofbrainchemicalsandcircuitsthatcontrolhungerandeatingSocialpressuretobethinDifficultyexpressingfeelingsHistoryofbeingteasedbecauseofweightorsizeHistoryofsexualorphysicalabusePerfectionism,orsettingunrealisticstandardsUnhappinesswithbodyimageAlackofsocialorfamilysupportLowself-esteemDepression,anxiety,stress,anger,orlonelinessBeliefthatathinnerbodyisideal,sometimesbecauseofsocialstandards,suchas picturesinfashionmagazinesDietingalotSocialproblemsingeneral,includingwithdrawalAhistoryofpsychiatricdisordersPrematurebirth,lowbirthweight,orbeingpartofamultiplebirthCanIHelpStopAnorexia?Therearemanythingsthatyou,yourfriends,family,andteacherscandotohelpeasethepressuresthatcouldleadyourlovedonedevelopinganorexia,includingthefollowing:Tellthembeingextremelythinisn’tbet