A new study has found that people who struggle with eating disorders and other forms of extreme weight loss may be driven more by competitiveness than anything else. Competitive instincts cause people to compare themselves to each other – and when taken to the extreme, can cause unhealthy behaviors.

“The study, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, found that a natural competitive instinct forces people to compare themselves with those who are more successful than them. And in a society that equates thinness with youthfulness and attractiveness, competing against someone successful often means losing weight.” [Source: QMI Agency]

Understanding the role competitiveness plays in disordered eating can help medical personnel plan effective treatment strategies, and give eating disorder sufferers a better understanding of what they’re really dealing with.

Labels: competing, extreme weight loss

Posted By: Jane St. Clair