Underlying Issues in Adolescents' Disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

Questions:
What are the underlying issues in adolescents' disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa? Why are these disorders greatest in the adolescent age range?

Answer:

In terms of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, this is a huge issue as it relates to self esteem, self worth, self image, and self value. Adolescents are looking to discover who they are and what they are to be about. The media, schools, peers and family all play a role in helping the youth discover who they are, and the bar is set very high. Often the youth is looking for a sense of control, and eating is an area that they have control over, they have so little control over other areas in their lives.

I have known of youth who have really struggled with this in their lives and it can be so debilitating, even as they have moved into adulthood.


However I also have local friends who have really struggled with family pressure. One particular friend went into accounting, and did the whole banking industry scene, because it paid a lot of money. She hated it. It was the furthest thing from her desires, she now has set up a business and is a designer, in a family business. Two other friends one who studied to be a PE teacher, and the other a linguist, are doing, you guessed it, the family business.

Perhaps different families have different expectations, and it may also depend on which child in the family. ie male first born may have more expectations? Just a thought

Further thoughts: How does birth order impact the family system?
Answer 2:
Adolescents focus more on their physical changes occurring in their bodies. They may not know how to use cognitive skills to protect themselves from emotional upset due to peep pressure or mass media. Apart from that, inherited biological predisposition and cultural factors also contribute to the development of eating disorders.