Vulnerable to Eating Disorders: Why Are Women More Vulnerable?

It’s long been assumed that eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) primarily impact women. The more research is done on eating disorders, the clearer it becomes that these deadly mental health conditions do not discriminate.

Even so, the false perception that women predominantly experience eating disorders is based on some truth, as women do tend to have a higher incidence of exhibiting disordered eating behaviors. Reducing the incidence of eating disorders in women requires an understanding of what factors make specific populations more vulnerable to these mental disorders.

Social Pressures for Women

A major driving component in nearly all eating disorders is body dissatisfaction, brought on by low self-esteem. Unfortunately, it appears social messaging about cis-gender women and the way they “should” look can work to develop these types of feelings.

While individuals of any gender can experience negative body image and dissatisfaction, research does indicate that women are more susceptible to this issue.

Advertising and the Beauty Industry

Societal messages and expectations related to body weight, shape, and size have a significant impact on an individual’s experience of themselves and their worth. And, as the beauty, wellness, and fitness industries advertise and market more heavily to cis-gender women, they may be more heavily impacted by these influences than other populations.

In January 2023 alone, the beauty industry spent $373 million to promote their products.1 Overall, the cosmetics and personal care industry spends $4 billion annually in advertising, with these products and ads being predominantly geared toward girls and women.1

Indeed, that imbalance is consistent with other findings detailing how women and men perceive their bodies.

One study detailed that 20 to 40% of women report dissatisfaction with their bodies compared to 10 to 30% of males. The same study identified that “men seem to place less importance on their appearance and report slightly higher levels of body appreciation” than women.2

Diet Culture

Diet culture describes a group of related ideas and philosophies around food, fitness, and diet. Broadly, the concept pushes the notion of fitness, insinuating that there is only one “true” body type—lean and toned—and that pursuing that body should be an overriding goal for everyone.

And sadly, it doesn’t take long for women to get the message.

One study conducted by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) found that girls were expressing concern about their weight or body shape as young as age 6. Between ages 6-12, the study found, up to 60% of girls were worried about their weight or thought of themselves as “too fat.”4

Another look at the issue found that a high number of women in college had disproportionate views of their bodies, with 27% describing themselves as “overweight” or “obese,” when only 11% met those criteria, as defined through the body mass index (BMI). Additionally, 43% of participants said they actively engaged in dieting behavior despite being considered a normal weight on the BMI, and 32% said they were trying to “avoid weight gain.”5

Biological Causes of Body Dissatisfaction in Women

While research makes it clear that women experience increased levels of body dissatisfaction and may change their eating habits accordingly, the reasoning for this is less apparent. After all, even though more beauty and wellness industry money is spent advertising to women, that doesn’t mean that none of this marketing is directed toward men.

But at least one study sought to explore this issue more deeply, looking beyond the social and into the neurological.

Body Perception in Women with Eating Disorders

The study worked off previously gathered research on the subject of eating disorders and the brain, including the regions of the brain responsible for body image perception and the fact that people with anorexia nervosa experience higher levels of body anxiety when comparing themselves to others.3

With that in mind, researchers sought to learn more about the type of brain activity that produces body satisfaction.

Wearing virtual reality headsets, participants were presented with images of their bodies, distorted to appear in differing sizes and weights. Results found that, when presented with realistic images of themselves in larger bodies, participants presented with increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, the part of the brain that processes fear and anger.

Further, women presented with this increased activity more than men, indicating a potential neurological predisposition to body dissatisfaction related to larger bodies in females.3

Anxiety Disorder Comorbidity

Anxiety disorders of all types are another common link between eating disorders and women.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have all been strongly linked to eating disorders—particularly anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It’s estimated that nearly two-thirds of patients with these conditions struggle with a comorbid or co-occurring anxiety disorder.6

Similarly, anxiety disorders tend to affect women disproportionately. One study found that girls and women between puberty onset and age 50 were twice as likely to experience an anxiety disorder than males.7

Once again, physiological differences may play a role, with the study claiming women’s brains were more likely to engage in the “fight or flight” response associated with stress and more likely to remain in that state than men, thanks, in part, to levels of estrogen and progesterone commonly found in the female body.7

Preventing Eating Disorders in Women: What Comes Next?

While societal and neurobiological factors may help color in some contexts, these factors alone are not enough to understand why eating disorders occur more frequently in some populations. This idea becomes even more apparent when considering that most studies only look at the male/female binary.

Learning more about how various gender identities experience body dissatisfaction can help further the understanding of the human experience and body expectations from all genders. Indeed, the more that is learned about eating disorder pathology, the more approaches to eating disorder treatment and understanding can be developed.

No two experiences of the world, identity, and eating disorders are alike. Therefore, we must incorporate the knowledge we get from research without placing each individual into boxes based on the research.

It represents a tricky balance, but if studies can be carefully crafted to honor these nuances, it may help further research and understanding of how eating disorders affect women and why.

How to Get Help for an Eating Disorder

Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders of all types are debilitating, dangerous, and potentially deadly conditions—no matter who they’re impacting. If you or a loved one are experiencing an eating disorder, it’s time to seek out help.

Your primary care doctor, therapist, or another trusted medical professional can be a great place to start. These experts can help you get an official diagnosis, find successful programs, or determine your next best steps.

If you’d rather not discuss this sensitive topic face-to-face with someone, some eating disorder hotlines can help. These services often allow callers to remain anonymous while offering resources and information on eating disorders and treatment or recovery options.

Battling an eating disorder can feel defeatist, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right kind of help, finding and maintaining recovery one step at a time is possible.

References

1.  Faria J. (2023). Beauty and cosmetics advertising in the U.S. – statistics and facts. Statista. Accessed June 2023.
2. Quittkat HL, et al. (2019). Body dissatisfaction, importance of appearance, and body appreciation in men and women over the lifespan. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10.
3. Preston C, & Ehrsson HH. (2016). Illusory Obesity Triggers Body Dissatisfaction Responses in the Insula and Anterior Cingulate Cortex. Cerebral Cortex; 26(12):4450–4460.
4. What are Eating Disorders? National Eating Disorders Association. Accessed June 2023.
5. Fayet F, Petocz P, & Samman S. (2012). Prevalence and correlates of dieting in college women: a cross sectional study. International Journal of Women’s Health; 4:405–411.
6. Kaye WH, Bulik CM, Thornton L, Barbarich N, & Masters K. (2004). Comorbidity of anxiety disorders with anorexia and bulimia nervosa. The American Journal of Psychiatry; 161(12):2215–2221.
7. Facts. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Accessed June 2023.

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The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated on January 17, 2024
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com