Eating disorders are not new. Anorexia Nervosa was first formally diagnosed in 1874, and the symptoms have been observed as far back as 300 years ago. Although the condition has been known for centuries, it seems to be center stage now during the last decade or so.

What is behind Anorexia? Is it inherited? Is Anorexia caused by some type of mental illness, or maybe environmental pressures? Does culture play a role in whether or not someone suffers from Anorexia? These questions are not easily answered, as we know if we have had any family members or close friends who have suffered from Anorexia. It's not as easily diagnosed as the measles or chickenpox, where the doctor knows exactly what the cause is. We will discover that there is no one clear-cut cause for Anorexia.

According to Women's Health Weekly one research study collected blood from 200 families where at least two of the siblings were suffering from Anorexia, several of the test results suggest a possible link between Anorexia and a shared susceptibility gene found in many of the siblings. We must keep in mind that although this research is promising it is still as of yet incomplete data, which in essence makes it a theo

Although circumstantial, evidence suggests that culture has a lot to do with whether or not a person will have an eating disorder. Here in the U.S. where there is more than enough food, girls who are at so called ideal body weight are still trying to lose more. In this country even though we promote good health our advertising on T.V., fashion magazines, and even on the World Wide Web equate thinness with beauty and good health. This type of advertisement seems to be directed toward Caucasian girls in general. Black girls who do not usually develop Anorexia are more confident about their body images than are white girls of similar weights.

A less researched area is that of environmental causes. Suzette, a 41-year-old mother of two relates: " My mother was always dieting, although she didn't seem occupied with other peoples weight. My mother was great and I always wanted to be like her. I was about thirteen when I stated to diet, with every pound I lost people would tell me; "Oh you look so good, just like your mother". I thought that was wonderful I just kept losing more and more". Suzette also talks about how during her adolescent years she felt pressure too from schoolmates and fashion magazines to maintain a certain weight. Models like Twiggy were loo

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 851
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)