Bulimia: 5 Factors That Push People to Try It

Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa: 6 Other Health Problems It Puts You at Risk For

Bulimia is one of the biggest concerns for today’s youth, and often even follows teens into adulthood. It is no secret that more and more people are damaging their health by trying it, but sometimes the reasoning isn’t all that clear. We are here to explore the five main factors that are pushing people to be bulimic – all you have to do is read on to educate yourself!

Number Five: Bulimia in Genetics

Though most people don’t know it, there is a genetic link that may be a contributing factor in the development of bulimia. There are specific chromosomes that appear in larger numbers in individuals prone to eating disorders, which may be increased if parents or even siblings have been affected by them as well.

Number Four: Biochemistry

Brain chemistry is often associated with the onset of eating disorders, as well. People susceptible to bulimia often have a higher level of serotonin (which is also a factor in depression and anxiety) or cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that is associated with stress, so people who are often stressed out are intensely prone to developing an eating disorder as a coping mechanism.

Number Three: Psychology

Psychological factors are one of the most common reasons for the development of an eating disorder. The engagement in such activity is usually the result of damaged self-esteem, thoughts of hopelessness or depression, difficulty in processing emotions, perfectionism, or impulsive nature.

Number Two: Culture

A main reason for the extremely high number of bulimia cases is the value of appearance in our societal culture. Society puts extreme emphasis on physical appearance, which often puts a desire to be wanted above personal health. Diet fads and romanticism of unrealistically thin figures are often what pushes young women and even young men to dysmorphia.

Number One: Environment

The environment that a person is raised in can play a huge part in the onset of bulimia. People who are emotionally damaged by traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse or bullying are much more likely to engage in harmful eating practices. This is because eating disorders are often used as a coping method for difficult emotions, or even as a sort of punishment for people who believe they are not good enough. However, each person is uniquely beautiful, and personal health should be your highest priority! We hope you enjoyed discovering the five factors that push people to try bulimia!