Gender. Teen girls and young women are more likely to develop eating disorders than males. However, eating disorders do impact teen boys and young men and shouldn’t be overlooked due to gender.
Age. Eating disorders can happen to any age group, though it is much more common for
people in their teens and early 20's. These years are a time of growth spurts and body
changes, leaving many young people overly sensitive to self-image.
Emotional issues. Existing emotional issues can play a role in the development of
eating disorders. Those with depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder are
more likely to struggle with body image issues and eating disorders.
Distorted body image. People who develop eating disorders often have unrealistic
ideas about body image, from comparing themselves to others to glorifying a particular
look or body type.
Life transitions. A lot of life changes occur in the teen years and 20's. Between experiencing high school, going to college, relationships, breakups, new jobs and other life changes, emotional distress can lead to an eating disorder.
Being involved in athletic or artistic activities. For young adults involved in athletics or artistic activities such as theater, the pressure to maintain a particular body image in order to stay at the top of their sport or activity can lead to an eating disorder.