By: Angie Liu
Abstract
Anorexia Nervosa is a complex psychological disorder that extends far beyond restrictive eating habits. This paper explores the deeper emotional and psychological roots of the disorder, particularly its relation to identity, control, and self-worth. By analyzing past studies and research, I explored how perfectionism, insecurity, and societal pressure can lead to Anorexia Nervosa, highlighting that it often becomes a way to cope with emotional struggles and external expectations. While current research provides insight into most psychological reasons behind the disorder, further experiments are needed to examine whether these reasons apply to different cultural and social contexts. By deepening our understanding of the internal struggles behind Anorexia Nervosa, we can provide a more compassionate and effective treatment, one that helps individuals not only recover from the disorder but also rediscover a strong sense of self.
Introduction
Eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa, are becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly among young adults. This condition is characterized by a distorted body image that leads to obsessive restriction of food intake, attempting to correct their perceived flaws. Despite extensive research, scientists have yet to ultimately uncover the foundational causes of eating disorders, as the origins of eating disorders are often more profound and more complex than they appear on the surface. Contributing factors may include a lack of self-confidence, extreme perfectionism, abnormal family dynamics, and other external pressures.
Historically, food was viewed as a fundamental and sacred necessity for survival. However, in modern society, the abundance of food options has led to categorizing foods as “healthy” and “unhealthy" Fruits and vegetables are often labeled as “good,” while treats like cupcakes and chips are seen as “bad.” This general categorization has shaped societal perceptions of what people should and should not consume, contributing to a culture of guilt and restriction
For individuals with Anorexia Nervosa, this mindset is taken to an extreme, where the desire to control food intake is compounded by an obsessive fear of gaining weight or failing to meet societal beauty standards.
Jameson (2018) defines disordered eating behaviors as "obsessive actions surrounding a person’s eating patterns, body shape, and weight." While eating disorders may appear as simply an abnormal relationship with food, the underlying causes are often rooted in struggles with self-worth and identity. Adolescents, especially, are more vulnerable due to external pressures regarding their bodies, such as societal ideas, media portrayals, and family influences. This pursuit of perfection translates into an internal obsession with their weight and appearance, causing unhealthy eating behaviors.
Anorexia Nervosa is a complex and multifaceted eating disorder revolving around struggles with identity, control, and self-worth, where people use restrictive eating as a coping mechanism to manage insecurities and regain control. This paper explores the psychological, social, and cultural factors contributing to the development of this disorder, highlighting the internal need for validation and meaning that underlies Anorexia Nervosa.
Literature Review:
Several prominent studies describe the relationship between the development of eating disorders and characteristics such as perfectionism. They contribute to answering my main research question, “What are the psychological reasons behind disordered eating, specifically Anorexia Nervosa, and how do they reflect deeper struggles with identity, control, and self-worth?”
The research conducted in this experiment was based on interviews with 11 women who had a lifetime history of Anorexia Nervosa. It aimed to “explore the relationship between the self and the eating disorder in individuals with a lifetime history of anorexia nervosa” (Williams, King, & Fox, 2015). The results identified five key themes: “AN taking over the self, AN protecting the self, sharing the self with AN, being no one without AN, and discovering the real me (accepting the fear).” One participant shared, “It’s like anorexia is my protector. Without it, I don’t know who I am.” To an extent, participants described how Anorexia Nervosa took over their sense of self to an extent that it became a part of them. This illustrates how deeply intertwined the disorder becomes with one’s identity. Building off this information, I will further explore how and why one may think this way about themselves and the disorder.
Building upon this concept of identity, Buhre (n.d.) expands on the impact of self-worth in the development and recovery of eating disorders. Her study reinforces how internal self-perception influences behavior and treatment outcomes. After analyzing the data collected from the interviews, the results, “revealed several consistent themes: disordered eating behavior was a body-directed form of self-punishment in response to social influences, and self-worth was seen by participants as being positively correlated to their recovery success.” My goal is to fortify and deepen readers’ understanding of these themes by including information from these two sources/experiments as they both describe how struggles with identity connect to Anorexia Nervosa.
Despite extensive research on the psychological factors contributing to Anorexia Nervosa, significant gaps still remain. While studies such as Williams, King, and Fox (2015) and Faija et al. (2017) examine how identity influences disordered eating, there is limited research on how these factors are displayed across diverse populations. Much of the existing writings focus primarily on citizens of the United States, overlooking how cultural differences, socioeconomic status, and gender shape the varied experiences of those with Anorexia Nervosa. Additionally, while Buhre (n.d.) emphasizes the role of self-worth in disordered eating, little research explores the transition from using restrictive eating as a coping mechanism to adopting healthier ways to regulate emotions. Future research should analyze how different family dynamics and social environments impact patients, as well as the methods for mental recovery and developing better coping mechanisms.
Anorexia Nervosa is a complex and multifaceted disorder rooted in struggles with identity, control, and self-worth. Individuals often rely on restrictive eating to manage feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, seeking a sense of order and validation in response to internal and external pressures. Through the analysis of existing research, this paper highlights how distorted perceptions of food, body image, and societal expectations contribute to developing disordered eating behaviors. While current literature provides helpful insights into these psychological factors, further research is needed to explore how these factors are seen across different populations and life stages. Better understanding these factors can improve treatment by addressing the psychological struggles behind Anorexia Nervosa.
Methodology
This study synthesizes findings from various psychological sources to investigate the connection between disordered eating and traits such as perfectionism and insecurity. Rather than conducting primary research, this paper analyzes existing studies to understand the emotional and cognitive patterns associated with Anorexia Nervosa better and to develop more effective ways to address its underlying struggles.
The Role of Control and Perfectionism in Anorexia Nervosa
Everyone has their way of coping with the chaos and unpredictability that life throws at them. For those with Anorexia Nervosa, counting calories, restricting food intake, and excessive exercise become methods of regaining a sense of control. They may think, “Since I can’t control other parts of my life, I can at least control my eating habits and weight.” (Anorexia Nervosa, n.d.) Watching the number on the scale drop provides a brief sense of accomplishment—one that feels unattainable in other areas of their life. But beneath these thoughts lies a deeper struggle: a desperate attempt to find stability and self-worth in a world that could feel overwhelming and uncertain at times. As one individual explained, “When everything else felt out of control, I knew I could control what I ate. That gave me comfort.” (Cleveland Clinic, 2025). This intense desire for control causes them to overlook the dangers of not meeting their body’s basic nutritional needs. They become so fixated on their perceived “accomplishments” that they lose sight of the harmful consequences—consequences that others without the disorder can easily recognize. At last, what began as simply a search for control becomes a dangerous cycle where the mind sacrifices the body in pursuit of an unattainable objective.
Relating to the previous paragraph, a human being’s personality starts developing the second they enter this world. The phrase, “Everyone is different,” truly describes our population on earth. Experiences reform characteristics and characteristics shape a person’s path. Perfectionism is defined as, “a personality trait characterized by setting extremely high, rigid, or "flawless" goals and placing excessive demands on oneself and others, often leading to negative consequences.” (Dorwart, 2023) Although this trait does not define every person with Anorexia Nervosa, it is widely common for patients as it is often driven by societal expectations or personal standards, contributing to the obsessive need for control over one’s body.
The Impact of Societal and Cultural Pressures on Body Image
While these internal factors play a central role, it is equally important to recognize the external influences that cause body dissatisfaction—particularly those stemming from modern social media. In today’s world, adolescents and young adults are constantly exposed to idealized bodies and lifestyles. Some of this content can be informative and positive, but most of it portrays a distorted reality, displaying unattainable ideals that can be deeply damaging to mental health.
Sasha, a 16-year-old high school junior, captures this unfortunate impact: “‘Look,’ she says, scrolling through her Instagram feed. ‘See: pretty coffee, pretty girl, cute cat, beach trip. It’s all like that. Everyone looks like they’re having the best day ever, all the time’” (Jacobson, 2025). This constant exposure to curated perfection creates an illusion where everyone seems effortlessly perfect, beautiful, and successful. However, social media users fail to realize that these images are chosen, edited, and filtered to highlight only the moments influencers want others to see. The other struggles, insecurities, and ordinary parts of life are always left out.
This distortion of reality can be particularly dangerous when it comes to body image. Research suggests that eating disorders often “stem from the constant exposure to idealized images and the promotion of unrealistic beauty standards” (“How Social Media Affects Body Image and Eating Disorders,” n.d.). These standards, reinforced by influencers and celebrities, spread the idea that a person’s worth is solely based on physical appearance, causing vulnerable viewers to believe such an unrealistic ideal.
For individuals with Anorexia Nervosa or those who have signs of developing disordered eating habits, this comparison to perfection can be overwhelming. Social media fosters a mindset where self-worth is equated with how skinny you are, where the natural and diverse shapes of human bodies are disregarded. Over time, such a toxic cycle will lead people to view their bodies not as an ability to have the strength to act freely and survive, but as objects to be perfected. Instead of appreciating what their bodies allow them to do, they become fixated on how their bodies appear to others.
In a world where social media heavily shapes our understanding of beauty and value, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from illusion. Recognizing the psychological power of these platforms is essential for preventing and addressing the negatively incorrect thoughts they often encourage. Without collective awareness and change, society will continue to normalize and promote unrealistic ideals that can ultimately lead to self-doubt, dissatisfaction, and for some, disordered eating.
Conclusion
Eating disorders are far more than an extreme desire to be thin—it is the fear of being judged, the tension in every bite of food, and most importantly, an individual's "antidote" for every hardship they face. This complex psychological disorder is shaped by a person’s immense craving for control, an easily breakable sense of identity, and a never-ending search for self-worth in a world of hate. Through exploring existing research and studies, it becomes clear that disordered eating is a response to both internal insecurities and external pressures. The influence of perfectionism, trouble with self-worth, and unrealistic standards promoted by social media all play significant roles in the formation of this disorder.
What makes Anorexia Nervosa particularly difficult to understand and treat is its ability to hide itself as a way of showing discipline, when in reality, it is rooted in pain, fear, and self-doubt. The "internal voice" of the disorder often convinces individuals that their value is measured by appearance, that control over food means control over life, and that perfection is not only possible but necessary. Recognizing these deeper causes is essential for creating more compassionate treatment strategies, effectively addressing the deeper emotional and psychological damages a patient has. As society tries to face the toxic beauty standards that fuel disordered eating, we must also work to replace them with messages of self-acceptance. We can only begin to truly help those with Anorexia Nervosa when we understand the real reasons behind the disorder. This understanding can help them see their value beyond their weight and escape the disorder’s control by discovering their true identity.
Bibliography
-
Williams, K., King, J., & Fox, J. R. E. (2015). Sense of self and anorexia nervosa: A grounded theory. Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice, 89(2), 211–228. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12068
-
Buhre, M. R. (n.d.). The role of Self-Worth in the development, expression, and recovery of disordered eating, including food addiction. UNCOpen. https://digscholarship.unco.edu/honors/3/
-
Faija, C. L., Tierney, S., Gooding, P. A., Peters, S., & Fox, J. R. E. (2017). The role of pride in women with anorexia nervosa: A grounded theory study. Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice, 90(4), 567–585. https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12125
-
Sources: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Graduate Writing Center - Naval Postgraduate School. (n.d.). https://nps.edu/web/gwc/sources-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly
-
Forbush, K., Heatherton, T. F., & Keel, P. K. (2006). Relationships between perfectionism and specific disordered eating behaviors. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40(1), 37–41. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20310
-
Anorexia nervosa. (2025, March 19). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9794-anorexia-nervosa#symptoms-and-causes
-
Amianto, F., Northoff, G., Daga, G. A., Fassino, S., & Tasca, G. A. (2016). Is anorexia nervosa a disorder of the self? A psychological approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00849
-
UHS_CenteR. (2020b, March 5). Towards an understanding of Self-Esteem and eating disorders. Center for Change. https://centerforchange.com/towards-understanding-self-esteem-eating-disorders/
-
Jacobson, R. (2025, January 14). Social media and Self-Doubt. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/social-media-and-self-doubt/
-
How social media affects body image and eating disorders. (n.d.). https://www.grandrisingbehavioralhealth.com/blog/the-impact-of-social-media-on-body-image-and-eating-disorders?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=RG_DSA_Grand&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr6_BhD4ARIsAH1YdjBoUpZmjBQTnBJB8_BUJg2EFsYxFtjRvXFo8OwnDcYVFD_5apVH4ZcaAo8nEALw_wcB
