Eating Disorders Case Study

1. Describe how eating disorders can be viewed as multi-determined disorders.
Eating disorders can be viewed as multi-determined disorders because there are many different factors that can play into a person developing an eating disorder. Each case is different and to get a clear picture of the disorder it must be looked at from numerous angles because often times it is a combination of different issues that contribute to someone developing an eating disorder.
One possible factor is biology. A person might inherit a gene from their parents that predisposes them to a susceptibility to eating disorders. While that may not be enough on its own, it certainly starts that person off on the wrong foot and if combined with other factors it can lead to an eating disorder. For example, an individual could inherit a slow metabolism causing them to put on weight faster than others, which in turn could cause them to develop an eating disorder to counteract the weight gain.
Another factor to consider is the

It may even start before a person is born. According to the “Academy for Eating Disorders Paper” eating disorders are heritable. “The heritability of eating disorders is similar to that of other psychiatric conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, OCD) that have been considered to be BBMIs, SMIs, or SEDs.”
Aside from the genetic component there is also the culture around eating in the home. Parents usually decide what type of food is eaten in the house and this in turn shapes a child’s thoughts about what is and isn’t normal. If the child is taught unhealthy eating habits from an early age it can lead to eating disorders due to the child modeling their behaviour after the parent. “Data suggest that parents, particularly mothers, may contribute to their children’s (particularly daughters’) decision to lose weight” (Module 6, slide