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Learn more about the results we get at Within

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Psychological causes of bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a psychiatric disorder that involves recurrent episodes of binge eating and purging or other compensatory behaviors, as well as an intense preoccupation with weight and/or body shape. While the pathogenesis remains unknown, research suggests that a constellation of behavioral, interpersonal, and biological factors may be the causes of bulimia nervosa. (1) This article will unpack the multifaceted causes of bulimia nervosa, through the biopsychosocial model.

4
 minutes read
Last updated on 
December 7, 2023
In this article

What is the biopsychosocial model?

In 1960, Dr. George Engel first published his unified concept of health and disease: the biopsychosocial model. This attempted to define the mechanisms and processes whereby health is either maintained or disease develops. (4)

Philosophically, it helps clinicians understand how suffering, disease, and illness are influenced by culture, society, childhood, and the patient’s perspective of their personal experience. This came at a time when clinicians viewed patients as objects in an exclusively analytic and reductionistic way. Dr. Engel criticized how medicine at the time dehumanized and disempowered patients, and wished to bring more empathy and compassion into medical practice. (5)

At Within Health, we fully support and use the biopsychosocial model. Since 1960, a plethora of research has identified numerous events and factors that can increase someone’s risk of developing an eating disorder like bulimia nervosa.

Is bulimia nervosa genetic?

Based on the current research available, yes it would appear bulima nervosa may be tied to genetics. Researchers reviewed a large population-based sample (>700,000) of full-sisters and maternal half-sisters born in Sweden between 1970-2005 that struggle with either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Their results support the claim that BN does have genetic etiologies, which should encourage more genetic research. (2)

According to The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, those who have family members with bulimia nervosa can have as high as a 74% chance of also developing BN. (9,11) 

Brain MRI studies demonstrate anatomical changes in those who have from bulimia nervosa, however it remains unclear if these changes came as a consequence of the disorder, or if they were contributory factors to developing BN. (6) 

Can childhood experiences cause bulimia nervosa?

Yes, there is a connection between childhood experiences, and disordered eating. 

Extensive population studies have identified the following childhood events that can increase someone’s risk of developing bulimia nervosa: (3)

  • Family disruption
  • Residential instability
  • Placement in out-of-home care
  • Familial death
  • Parental illness
  • Parental psychiatric illness
  • Parental disability
  • Severe parental criminality
  • Parental substance abuse disorders

If a child feels chronically unsafe, or insecurely attached to their caregiver, this can hinder the development of resilience, grit, and their ability to self soothe. Instead of exploring and learning, the child can become hypervigilant, and may fearfully view the world. Children who adopt this mindset at a very young age may have altered perception of their subjective experience as adolescents and adults. Studies show that unfortunately, according to the biopsychosocial model, these types of influences may trigger someone to develop an eating disorder.

Experiencing stressful life events (SLEs) can understandably impact mental health. Another population study looked at an extensive list of SLEs, and found that those who suffer from an eating disorder had much higher rates of trauma, including rape, sexual assault, emotional abuse, and bereavement in their past compared to those without eating disorders. (7)

Children and adolescents that experienced bullying and weight shaming are significantly more likely to develop bulimia nervosa. This includes verbal, indirect, and digital bullying victimization. Bullying prior to eating disorder onset was significantly more common than bullying occurring after diagnosis. (8,11)

While overarching screening for BN is not currently recommended, research has found that the following people are at increased risk of developing bulimia nervosa. (6,10,11)

  • Those with a history of adversity or trauma during childhood
  • Young adults
  • Women and girls, especially those with type 1 diabetes
  • Transgender individuals Athletes
  • People who struggle with anxiety or depressive disorders
  • People who are extremely rigid or a perfectionist

Society and culture can also heavily influence the development of bulimia nervosa. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), almost 70% of children aged 6-12 agree that media influences how they view their body, with nearly 50% saying that certain images make them feel that they need to lose weight. 

One study showed that those who have a history or tendency to suppress their emotions are at increased risk of developing bulimia nervosa. Instead of venting or processing difficult emotions, they have a proclivity to hold onto damaging thoughts, and often avoid or deny that they exist, which may contribute to the use of disordered behaviors as coping mechanisms. (11,13)

Although the causes of bulimia nervosa are multifaceted and not fully understood, it is always possible to begin the process of healing from this eating disorder. Because of the complex nature of this disorder, treating people with bulimia must include careful attention to the behavioral, psychological, and social components. Depending on the individual, recovery from bulimia nervosa may involve exploring the ways that eating disorder behaviors serve as a coping mechanism, accessing support to work through trauma and treat co-occurring mental illnesses, and relearning a more peaceful relationship with food.

Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.

Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.

Resources

  1. Engel, S., et al. Bulimia nervosa in adults: clinical features, course of illness, assessment, and diagnosis. UpToDate. Topic last updated: 10 May, 2021. Accessed 1 November 2022. 
  2. Yao S, Larsson H, Norring C, Birgegård A, Lichtenstein P, DʼOnofrio BM, Almqvist C, Thornton LM, Bulik CM, Kuja-Halkola R. Genetic and environmental contributions to diagnostic fluctuation in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Psychol Med. 2021 Jan;51(1):62-69. doi: 10.1017/S0033291719002976. 
  3. Larsen JT, Munk-Olsen T, Bulik CM, Thornton LM, Koch SV, Mortensen PB, Petersen L. Early childhood adversities and risk of eating disorders in women: A Danish register-based cohort study. Int J Eat Disord. 2017 Dec;50(12):1404-1412. doi: 10.1002/eat.22798. 
  4. Engel, G.L. (1960). A Unified Concept of Health and Disease. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 3(4), 459-485. doi:10.1353/pbm.1960.0020.
  5. Borrell-Carrio, F., et al. (2004). The Biopsychosocial Model 25 Years Later: Principles, Practice, and Scientific Inquiry. Annals Fam Med, 2(6), 576-582. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.245
  6. Yager, J. Eating disorders: overview of epidemiology, clinical features, and diagnosis. UpToDate. Topic last updated 16 May, 2022. Accessed 1 November 2022. 
  7. Lie S, Bulik CM, Andreassen OA, R.,Bang L. Stressful life events among individuals with a history of eating disorders: a case-control comparison. BMC Psychiatry. 2021 Oct 13;21(1):501. doi: 10.1186/s12888-021-03499-2. 
  8. Lie S, Bulik CM, Andreassen OA, R.,Bang L. The association between bullying and eating disorders: A case-control study. Int J Eat Disord. 2021 Aug;54(8):1405-1414. doi: 10.1002/eat.23522. 
  9. Eating disorder statistics: General & Diversity stats: Anad. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. (2022, June 8). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://anad.org/eating-disorders-statistics/ 
  10. Diabetesjournals.org. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://diabetesjournals.org/spectrum/article/22/3/138/2391/Eating-Disorders-and-Diabetes-Introduction-and 
  11. Miller, G. (2021, May 17). What causes bulimia? Psych Central. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://psychcentral.com/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa-causes#causes-and-risk-factors 
  12. Bullying & weight shaming. National Eating Disorders Association. (2018, February 26). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/bullying-weight-shaming 
  13. Meule, A., et al. (2019). Emotion regulation and emotional eating in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. J Treatment & Prevention, Eating Disorders, 29(2), 175-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2019.1642036

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Further reading

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