The development of disordered eating/eating disorders is complex, and is unique for each person. Someone with disordered eating will not necessarily experience all of the examples listed below. In some case, the presence of symptoms listed may be indicative of other problems not necessarily related to disordered eating.

Society and Cultural Influences (North American and Western Culture):

• Discrimination (including sizeism, fat phobia, sexism, ageism, racism, poverty, classism, etc.) All forms of discrimination can contribute to the development of negative body image and/or disordered eating. Discrimination affects an individual’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and sense of self worth. Discrimination can also affect an individual’s ability to form positive connections with others, an integral part of wellness for most people.
• Pressure to meet and maintain unrealistic beauty ideals ie: thinness (especially for females), minimal/no fat, muscular (especially for males), youth, agelessness, etc. The lack of diversity represented in popular media results in a strong misrepresentation of what beauty, health and wellness can be and what these actually look like in our society.
• Valuation of females based primarily on the way they look. This image valuation puts women at a higher risk for the development of disordered eating and negative body image and perpetuates the objectification and abuse of the female body.
• Pressure to conform to (and to accept) narrowly defined images and roles (i.e. ‘it is normal for women to hate their bodies,’ ‘men are supposed to be muscular and strong,’ ‘eating disorders are about teenage girls trying to get attention,’ ‘nobody wants to look their age’) These assumptions and pressures lead to the perpetuation of myths and stereotypes re: gender, age, race, etc.
• Profit by industries (i.e. diet industry, makeup and beauty industry, fashion industry, fitness industry, cosmetic surgery industry, etc.) for convincing people that they are not okay as they are, and that they will be made better/okay by the use of the company’s "products."

Family/Peers/Close Community Influences:

• Control: A very controlling environment can inhibit an individual’s ability to make choices for themselves. This fosters dependence rather than independence.
• Body Image: Strong preoccupations with appearance, weight and/or size within the family and/or peer group can result in individuals being valued/praised primarily for the way they look.
• Perfectionism: Very high, often unrealistic, expectations are placed on the individual.
• Acceptance: Self-acceptance and acceptance of diversity are not modeled and/or encouraged. Individuals are not accepted for who they are.
• Relationships: Feelings, thoughts and ideas are not valued/heard. There is little to no communication or connection within familial and/or peer relationships.
• History of abuse: physical, emotional, or sexual.

Individual Influences:

• Low self-esteem: a person holds negative ideas and attitudes about her/him self, which may lead to a lack of assertiveness and to isolation and depression
• Extreme sensitivity to other’s feelings: A person focuses on a nurturing role toward others, accompanied by self-sacrifice. Having one’s own needs met is believed to be less important than ensuring that the needs of others are met. Individuals may feel that they do not deserve the same rights as others.
• Perfectionism: Great talent and ability may be present, but in order to feel that an adequate job is done, the person believes it must be perfect. They may be predisposed to compulsive behavior.
• Maturity Fears: Fear of pubertal development, increased responsibility and a future that may be more complex and demanding. The person may fear becoming unable to meet everyone else’s needs and to achieve perfection.
• Loss: Person has experienced a significant loss (i.e. death or divorce).
• Activities: Person is drawn to highly competitive activities that strongly focus on particular body types (i.e. gymnastics, competitive running, ballet, modeling, wrestling, competitive horse racing, etc).