The possible causal factors in eating disorders

The possible causal factors of two eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, were investigated in this thesis. While it was obvious that an individual's self-esteem was related to these eating disorders, four further possible causes of eating disorders were researched. The four possible causes of eating disorders evaluated, are: genetics and heredity, external pressures, childhood abuse, and other disorders. Although this research found a significant positive correlation between each of these factors and eating disorders, more research still needs to be done. It remains unclear as to whether all of these factors directly lead to the development of an eating disorder, and which individuals will be affected by which causal factors.