We contend with and try to make sense of advertising, a major force in our culture, which extols the abstemious physique while simultaneously enticing us to indulge in treats. It's very confusing. Moreover, females have been historically and remain more identified with their bodies than men. It is understandable that many females wrestle with their body image and eating. Eating problems often develop out of a diet, a very common practice.
Restriction can also create powerful feeling of deprivation, which can be a set-up for a binge.
Problematic and disordered eating are outgrowths of a culture preoccupied with and confused about female appetite and intake. They are also ways of coping with difficult emotions and circumstances. Restriction blunts the emotional system and creates an illusory sense of control. Bingeing and purging discharge feelings that are not yet understood or directly communicated to others. People are more prone to disturbed eating during times of stress and uncertainty.