Girls whose parents and grandparents are highly educated may be at increased risk for developing eating disorders. A Swedish study of more than 13,000 girls found that, as parents' or grandparents education increased, so did the girls risk of being hospitalized for an eating disorder.

"It's possible, the researchers write, that these girls feel more pressure from family to succeed  which for some could translate into an obsession with controlling their eating and body weight. In addition, higher-achieving girls may be more likely to have certain personality traits, such as perfectionism, that make them relatively more vulnerable to eating disorders." (Source: Reuters, Sept. 18, 2009)

Overall, girls whose parents were college-educated were twice as likely to be treated for an eating disorder, Reuters reported, and the risk was six times as high for girls who maternal grandmother was also college-educated.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, education, risks

Posted By: Aspen/CRC