Psychiatria pre prax 1/2004

Risk factors in eating disorders

A simple answer to a complex question about etiology of eating disorders is excluded by their very differentiated nature and by their dynamic development. It is obvious that there is no key risk factor and that almost always there occurs a particular constellation of influence of socio-cultural and family factors, life events, personality features with developmental and biological factors. Author concentrates primarily on the logic of overall interpretation framework related to gender, adolescence, bodily changes, influence of family and certain psychological factors.

Keywords: Eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, comorbidity, adolescence.