Etiology of Eating Disorders in Women

The epidemiologic designs that have been used to test risk factor hypotheses are illustrated and the major studies designed to answer the question of what causes eating disorders are described.

Abstract

Eating disorders have been studied extensively over the past several decades, yet research of their etiology has lagged behind treatment outcome research. This article reviews the challenges inherent in this research. It illustrates the epidemiologic designs that have been used to test risk factor hypotheses and describes the major studies designed to answer the question of what causes eating disorders. It points to significant gaps in knowledge, chief among them the absence of representative data on prevalence and correlates of eating disorders, and the lack of data regarding eating disorders in ethnic minority populations.