Risk & Protective Factors

The elements that contribute to the development of an eating disorder are complex, and involve a range of biological, psychological and sociocultural factors. An individual’s susceptibility to developing an eating disorder is best understood as a complex interaction between these factors, and the presence of risk factors will vary from person to person.   

Awareness of the risk factors can support opportunistic screening and sensitivity of the professional to the complexities of a person’s experience.  

Compelling evidence from family and twin studies indicates that a strong genetic component influences the development of eating disorders, in particular anorexia nervosa (1).   

There are biological and genetic, psychological and behavioural, and socio-cultural factors which may increase the vulnerability to developing an eating disorder.

Biological and genetic factors

• families with a history of eating disorders and other mental health conditions  

• high body weight in childhood  

• early start of menarche (<12yrs)  

• transition stages with major physical and social changes such as adolescence, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause   

• higher parental body weight  

• genetic predisposition towards specific traits such as perfectionism (see psychological factors)   

Psychological and behavioural  factors

• dieting  

• perfectionistic traits  

• heightened sensitivity or inability to cope with negative evaluations  

• stress  

• obsessive-compulsive traits or disorder  

• neurodiverse individuals  

• depression or depressive features  

• anxiety, including social anxiety and avoidance of social interaction  

• substance misuse  

• overvaluing body image in defining self-worth  

• dissatisfaction with body weight and shape  

• low self-esteem or feelings of inadequacy  

• harm avoidance or traits such as excessive worrying, anxiety, fear, doubt and pessimism  

• individuals who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  

Socio-cultural factors

• adopting and aspiring to cultural ideals of thinness, muscularity and leanness  

• pressure to achieve and succeed  

• peer pressure  

• teasing or bullying, especially when focused on weight or body shape  

• troubled family or personal relationships  

• family dieting  

High-risk groups and presentations 

Based on the known risk factors for eating disorders, high-risk groups and presentations have been identified and require specific attention by health professionals that may work with people from these identified groups.  

High-risk groups  

• Females, especially during biological and social transition periods (e.g., onset of puberty, change in relationship status, pregnancy and postpartum, menopause, change in social role)  

• Children and adolescents; although eating disorders can develop at any age, risk is highest between 13 and 17 years of age (2) 

• Competitive occupations, sports, performing arts and activities that emphasise thin body shape/weight requirements (e.g., modelling, gymnastics, horse riding, dancing, athletics, wrestling, boxing)  

• LGBTQIA+ communities.  

High-risk presentations  

These are people who:  

• are seeking to lose weight  

• are experiencing weight loss, intentional or unintentional  

• are following a diet that limits energy intake, requires calorie counting or eliminates a food or food group  

• are on restrictive diets due to food intolerances or allergies (e.g., coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome)  

• are experiencing comorbid conditions which cause weight loss or gain/focus on body, weight, shape and eating (e.g., type 1 and type 2 diabetes), polycystic ovary syndrome, coeliac disease)  

• are experiencing mental health conditions including anxiety and depression  

• are experiencing neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) 

• are experiencing low self-esteem  

• are experiencing substance misuse  

• have a history of trauma  

• have current or historical experience of food insecurity  

• have perfectionist or compulsive personality traits.  

Protective factors

Research has shown that there are protective factors that may reduce the likelihood of developing an eating disorder. As with risk factors, protective factors tend to be grouped. These groups include:

Individual protective factors

• High self-esteem
• Positive body image
• Critical processing of media images (i.e. media literacy)
• Emotional well-being
• School achievement
• Being self-directed and assertive
• Good social skills with success at performing multiple social roles
• Problem solving and coping skills

Family protective factors

• Belonging to a family that does not over-emphasise weight and physical attractiveness
• Eating regular meals with the family

Socio-cultural protective factors

• Belonging to a culture that accepts a range of body shapes and sizes
• Involvement with sport or industry where there is no emphasis on physical attractiveness or thinness
• Peer or social support structures and relationships where weight and physical appearance are not of high concern 

Body acceptance

Body acceptance occurs when a person is able to accept, appreciate and respect their body, and this acceptance can make a person less susceptible to developing an eating disorder. Furthermore, body acceptance improves self-esteem, self-acceptance, and healthy outlook and behaviours. 

For more information, go to the NEDC Body Image page.  

A healthy relationship with food and eating

A healthy relationship with food and eating includes:  

• eating a variety of different foods from all food groups 

• eating an appropriate quantity of food to meet individual health and development requirements 

• eating with others or alone with equal ease 

• eating with flexibility, spontaneity and for enjoyment 

• listening to our body’s cues; eating when you are hungry and stopping when you are full. For some people who experience difficulties with perception of the body’s internal state (such as level of hunger or satiety), a focus on regularity of eating may be more helpful than a focus on hunger and satiety.  

• eating that does not interfere with everyday life 

• not attaching unhelpful labels to food, such as  ‘good’ or ‘bad’, ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’, ‘clean’ or ‘junk’.

 For more information, go to the NEDC Disordered Eating and Dieting page.

Media literacy

For many, social media provides an accessible and powerful toolkit for finding information, building relationships and promoting a sense of identity and belonging. For others, online communities can be an unsafe space, and being aware of the risks can help people take the appropriate precautions to ensure safe use. It is important to develop the ability to critically access, analyse, evaluate, and safely create media.

For more information about media literacy programs, go to the NEDC Media Literacy page.

References

1. Bulik CM, Blake L, Austin J. Genetics of eating disorders: what the clinician needs to know. The Psychiatric clinics of North America. 2019;42(1):59-73. 

2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Eating disorders: recognition and treatment. Full guideline. NICE; 2017. 

3. Patton GC, Selzer R, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Wolfe R. Onset of adolescent eating disorders: population based cohort study over 3 years. BMJ. 1999;318(7186):765-8. 

 

See also

What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses; they are not a lifestyle choice or a diet gone ‘too far’.

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Eating Disorders in Australia

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Who is Affected?

Eating disorders can occur in people of all ages and genders, across all socioeconomic groups, and from any cultural background.

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Disordered Eating & Dieting

Disordered eating sits on a spectrum between normal eating and an eating disorder and may include symptoms and behaviours of eating…

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Body Image

What is body image?Body image is a combination of the thoughts and feelings that you have about your body.

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Weight Stigma

What is weight stigma?Weight stigma is the discrimination towards people based on their body weight and size.

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People with Higher Weight

Historically, eating disorders have been conceptualised as illnesses of people of low body weight and typified by disorders such as…

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Eating Disorders and Males

Eating disorders are serious, complex mental illnesses accompanied by physical and mental health complications which may be severe and life…

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Eating Disorders and Diabetes

If you are living with diabetes and experiencing disordered eating or an eating disorder, you are not alone.

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Stigma and Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses characterised by disturbances in behaviours, thoughts and feelings towards body weight and shape, and/or food and…

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Myths

Research indicates that there are generally low levels of mental health literacy in the community; however, general beliefs and misunderstanding…

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