Keywords

adolescents, eating disorders, family trauma, social trauma, body image, perfectionism

Abstract

According to Gerbasi et al. (2014), eating disorders are considered a global health crisis, if not a worldwide epidemic. Early intervention in adolescence may be effective in slowing the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors in this at-risk demographic. Bills et al. (2023) concluded that physical complications may come from participating in disordered eating and may eventually attribute to the development of an eating disorder; these complications may include diminished brain function and health, as well as diminished heart function and health. It was also concluded that eating disorders may be linked to suicidal ideation and other mental health issues (Bills et al., 2023). According to Gerbasi et al. (2014), peer influence may be connected to learning perfectionistic tendencies and may be a potential risk factor for eating disorders in adolescents. Studies have shown a direct correlation between childhood trauma or maltreatment and eating disorders (Caslini et al., 2016; Groth et al., 2020; Hicks White et al., 2018). Slowing down this epidemic may involve starting healthy eating habits in the home and combatting social norms and cultural expectations such as the body image ideal and perfectionism.