Causes. No one knows the precise cause of anorexia. It is likely that it’s a mixture of environmental, biological and psychological factors. It is possible that some people are at higher risk than others for developing anorexia due to genetic changes, but it is not known which genes are involved at this time. Some individuals suffering from anorexia might possess obsessive-compulsive traits that make it less difficult to give up food and stay on strict diets regardless of hunger. Contemporary Western culture puts a lot of importance on being thin. Worth and success are frequently equated with thinness. Peer pressure might be another factor, especially with young girls.
