Worry or stress may lead to comfort eating. This may cause worries about getting fat. Dieting and missing meals lead to craving for food, loss of control and over-eating. Anorexia or bulimia can develop as a complication of more extreme dieting, perhaps triggered by an upsetting event, such as family breakdown, death or separation in the family, bullying at school or abuse. More ordinary events, such as the loss of a friend, a teasing remark or school exams, may also be the trigger in a vulnerable person.
Some people are more at risk than others.
Risk factors include being female, being previously overweight and lacking self-esteem. Sensitive or anxious individuals who are having difficulty becoming independent are also more at risk. The families of young people with eating disorders often find change or conflict particularly difficult and may be unusually close or protective. If you think a young person may be developing an eating disorder, it is worth asking them about whether they have worries which could have altered their appetite or weight. They may admit they are spending a lot of time worrying about their appearance and thinking about food.