There is no simple answer to the question of what causes bulimia. Although the condition is linked to a fear of getting fat, more complex emotions usually contribute to the problem.
The act of bingeing and purging is often a way of dealing with these intense emotions.
Some common factors that may lead to bulimia are outlined below.
Low self-esteem
If you have an eating disorder, you may have a low opinion of yourself and see losing weight as a way of gaining self-worth.
Depression
You may use bingeing as a way of coping with unhappiness. People with bulimia often feel depressed, so they binge regularly. However, purging does not relieve this depression and the cycle continues. For more information, see the Health A-Z topic about Depression.
Stress
Bulimia can sometimes occur following stressful situations or life events. For example, you may develop the condition after dealing with a traumatic experience, such as a death or divorce, or during the course of important life-changing events, such as getting married or leaving home.
Bulimia can also occur in people who have experienced physical illness, and in people who have been sexually abused. Some people with bulimia have experienced a difficult childhood, with family problems, arguments and criticism.
Other mental health problems
Bulimia is often linked with other psychological problems. Research shows that bulimia is more common in people who have anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders.
Cultural and social pressure
Some people believe that the media and fashion industry create pressure for people to aspire to low body weights.
Puberty
Many young people become affected by eating disorders around the time of puberty, when hormonal changes can make them more aware of their body.
If teenagers feel they have no say in their lives, bulimia can seem like the only way they can take control.
Genetics
There may be a genetic factor related to developing bulimia. Research suggests that people who have a close relative who has or has had bulimia are four times more likely to develop it than those who do not have a relative with the condition.
