These teens are afraid to disappoint their parents. They are not sure they deserve good things in their lives, like love, praise, even food. They may feel insecure about their abilities and talents. They may have trouble figuring out their own identity . If teens don't feel like they have any control over their own lives they may use food and body weight as the only way to get control.
Western society is obsessed with thinness.
Never before in history have females been encouraged to be as thin as they are today in the U.S. and other industrial countries. It's just not healthy. In fact, it's killing many of us. At first, I didn't think I was anorexic. Everyone was telling me, this is what you've got.