ABSTRACT

One of the most common questions asked about an eating disorder is ‘Why did she get it?’ Unfortunately, this also happens to be one of the most difficult to answer. Although there is quite a lot of information about eating disorders once they have developed, no one completely understands why or how eating disorders occur. Certainly there are a number of factors that have to occur in combination before an eating disorder emerges. In other words, there is not one single cause, but underlying causes which are complex and multiple. We will now try to clarify what is known and identify those areas that need further understanding.