Anorexia Nervosa Essay

There are several research examining the risk factors that trigger the etiology of anorexia nervosa in adolescents. Wicks-Nelson and Israel (2016) mentions several biological factors such as, differences in neurotransmitters, genetic influences, and hormonal changes. Specifically, there was a research conducted to study the neuropsychology of AN in adolescents. The aim of the present study was to “determine the percentage of adolescents with AN who present worse cognitive functioning according to neuropsychological criteria of cognitive impairment, and to study their clinical characteristics” (Andrés-Perpiña, Lozano-Serra, Puig, Lera-Miguel, Lázro, & Castro-Fornieles, 2011). A group of 37 adolescents with a diagnosis of AN and a control group of 41 adolescents, who were similar in age and IQ
participated in this study. Various tests were administered to measure the clinical and biological aspect of eating symptomatology of both groups. Also, several neuropsychological tests were administered as well as impaired cognitive functioning were measured. As a result, 30% of the AN group displayed impaired cognitive functioning, higher anxiety traits, and lower BMI (Andrés-Perpiña et al., 2011). Family influence is another risk factor for anorexia nervosa in adolescents.
Specifically, researchers examined disordered eating behaviors in families as a risk factor to eating disorder. The aims of this study was to “examine the prevalence of discorded eating behaviors among adolescents and adults living in the same household” (Ferreira, de Souza, da Costa, Sichieri, & de Veiga, 2013). The research was held in Brazil the participants consisted of 511 adolescents and 1254 adults. The household binge-eating, strict dieting, purging, and fasting behaviors were accumulated over a 6-month period by an interview and self-report questionnaire. The researchers found that “the prevalence of binge eating and strict dieting or fasting was more than twice as high among adolescents who lived with adults reporting such behaviors” (Ferreira, de Souza, da Costa, Sichieri, & de Veiga, 2013). This research illustrates the household family influence of eating behavior. Although the study does not measure anorexia nervosa, the behaviors of binge-eating and purging are subtypes of AN. Therefore, family diet and eating behavior can be a risk factor to the development of AN in
adolescents. Peer relations is a critical component of development during adolescence. However, research has shown a detrimental peer influence and its relation to eating disorder. Researchers, Eisenberg and Neumark-Sztainer (2010) conducted a longitudinal study hypothesizing that “friends’ involvement with dieting will be associated with the development of disordered eating.” A sample of 2.516 adolescents participated in the study and the researchers measured the participant’s friends’ dieting behaviors and their own experience of “chronic dieting, unhealthy weight control, extreme weight control, and binge eating” (Eisenberg & Neumark-Sztainer, 2010). There was a five year follow up of the study and the researchers were able to find the hypothesized result that dieting and disordered eating behaviors are influenced by friends. This study demonstrates the effect of friendship and the risk factor to the development of eating disorder. Overall, there are different risk factors that play a vital role to the etiology of anorexia nervosa. Influences such as biological, parental, and peer-relational factors may contribute to the development of AN in adolescents. It is important to note that targeting various of areas that has triggered the progress of AN may be an essential component to treating anorexia nervosa in adolescents.