Causes & Risk Factors

What Causes Eating Disorders

Eating disorders have no single cause. They arise from a complex interplay of genetic, biological, psychological, and social factors — no one chooses an eating disorder, and no one is to blame. These guides explore the influences that contribute to their development, and how understanding them supports prevention and recovery.

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Social Media

Social media is strongly linked to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, and algorithms can amplify the risk. What the research shows — and what helps.

No one chooses an eating disorder.

Understanding the causes is part of removing the blame — and finding the way forward.

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