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Eating disorders develop from a complex combination of biological, psychological, and social influences.
While no single factor causes an eating disorder, certain experiences, traits, and environmental pressures can increase a person’s risk. Understanding these risk factors can help individuals recognize early warning signs and support those who may be struggling.
The list below outlines a wide range of factors associated with the development of eating disorders, highlighting how personal, cultural, and environmental influences can interact to affect eating behaviors and body image. Recognizing these risks is an important step toward prevention, early intervention, and supporting overall well-being.
Developmental & Transitional Factors
Developmental & Transitional Factors
First-year college transition (routine, food, independence changes)
Academic and social stress
Adolescence and young adulthood
Younger age
Body Image & Weight Concerns
Body dissatisfaction
Extreme body dissatisfaction
Desire to lose weight
Preoccupation with weight or shape
Fear of weight gain (“freshman 15”)
Internalization of unrealistic beauty ideals
Appearance-based social comparison
Self-objectification
Dieting & Weight Control Behaviors
Dieting (even short-term attempts)
Skipping meals (especially dinner)
Fasting
Binge eating
Purging
Excessive or compulsive exercise
Exercise addiction
Detox drinks/juice cleanses
Cutting out “junk” foods
Supplement use for body change
Avoiding family or social gatherings due to food
Weight-Related Self-Monitoring (WRSM)
Frequent weighing
Calorie tracking
Online food journaling
Weight tracking apps
Wearable fitness trackers
Diet/exercise plan apps
Social Media & Digital Behavior
More than 3 hours/day of social media use
Problematic or addictive social media use
Exposure to thinspiration/fitspiration content
Exposure to unrealistic or romanticized body ideals
Following nutrition/fitness content online
Seeking appearance-based validation (likes, comments)
Popularity-driven social media use
Problematic mobile phone use
Late-night social media use
Exposure to unqualified diet/fitness advice
Psychological & Personality Factors
Perfectionism
Imposter syndrome
Low self-esteem
Low emotional stability
High responsibility traits
Low trait emotional intelligence
Emotional dysregulation
Rumination
Mental Health Factors
Anxiety disorders
Depressive disorders
Psychological distress
Suicidality risk
Mood disturbances
Sleep & Biological Factors
Poor sleep quality
Circadian rhythm disruption
Hormonal dysregulation (ghrelin/leptin)
Elevated stress hormones (cortisol)
Inflammatory processes
Sociocultural & Environmental Influences
Thin-ideal pressure
Media glorification of certain body types
Cultural beauty standards
Gender-based appearance pressures
Reduced sense of belonging (academic or social)
If you notice any of these risk factors in an individual, it may be time to take action. Early intervention can make a meaningful difference. To learn more about how to approach and carry out an intervention, click the link below:
Sources
Sources
Amengual-Llofriu, M. A., Tauler, P., & Aguiló, A. (2025). Risk of eating disorders among university students and its association with dieting, weight control behavior, and non-substance addictions. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 3822. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25113-w
Cerolini, S., Nowicki, G. P., & Rodgers, R. F. (2025). The interplay between social media use, poor sleep, and disordered eating: A narrative review. Cogent Mental Health, 4(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/28324765.2025.2594799
Chang, O. D. (2020). The stakes of self-worth: Examining contingencies of self-worth to clarify the association between global self-esteem and eating disturbances in college women. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 76(12), 2283–2295. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23006
Claydon, E., & Zullig, K. J. (2020). Eating disorders and academic performance among college students. Journal of American College Health, 68(3), 320–325. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2018.1549556
Fowler, K., Wareham-Fowler, S., & Keyes, C. L. M. (2025). Flourishing despite eating disorder risk: Exploring undergraduate student academic, social, and mental health outcomes via the dual continua model. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2025.2594167
Generoso, R., Irvine-Marsh, S., Jepsen, A., Sonneville, K. R., & Hahn, S. L. (2025). Examining prevalence of disordered eating and self-monitoring methods by specific weight and shape management goals among first-year college students. Journal of American College Health, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2025.2550379
Jacobson, R. (2023, November 6). College students and eating disorders. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/eating-disorders-and-college/
Meyer, L. P., & Leppma, M. (2019). The role of mindfulness, self-compassion, and emotion regulation in eating disorder symptoms among college students. Journal of College Counseling, 22(3), 211–224. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocc.12138
Peréz-Jiménez, M., Uclés-Torrente, M. D. M., Ruiz-Gamarra, G. E., Vaquero-Álvarez, M., Blancas-Sánchez, I. M., Aparicio-Martínez, P., & Vaquero-Abellán, M. (2025). Social media consumption and risk of addiction associated with adolescent disordered eating behaviour: An observational analysis. Nutrients, 17(18), Article 3017. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17183017
Riolo, M., Piombo, M. A., Spicuzza, V., Novara, C., La Grutta, S., & Epifanio, M. S. (2025). The relationship between emotional intelligence and the risk of eating disorders among adolescents: The mediating role of motivation for the use of social media and moderation of perceived social support. Behavioral Sciences, 15(4), 434. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040434
Sagert, S. J., & Christensen Pacella, K. A. (2025). Higher imposter syndrome symptoms associated with greater odds of eating disorders in college and university students. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2025.2501013
Smith, J. M., et al. (2022). Development and psychometric evaluation of an empirically derived daily checklist of weight control: Consumption reduction strategies and health-focused strategies in college students. Journal of American College Health, 70(5), 1577–1583. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1810691
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