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Having worked with people suffering from eating disorders, and having had one myself (though not anorexia but compulsive overeating or binge eating disorder)I know that nobody who feels great about themselves, feels comfortable in their own skin, is happy where they are going and happy where they have been will develop an eating disorder.

Somewhere along the line, something triggers the disorder, whether it is an act of violence, a thin role model, relationships that are not working out, or something as simple as someone suggesting that maybe you should lose some weight.

If you would be truly happy with yourself, you would bounce back from the violent act by talking to people, working on your problem before it becomes a real problem, you would not pick a role model who is extremely thin because you would know that it is not healthy, you would rely on yourself and understand that sometimes relationships don't work out, without putting extreme blame on yourself, and if someone suggested you should lose weight, you'd get on a scale, figure out if what you weigh is right for your length and body type and either do something about it, or not.

Of course there are people who have a higher risk of developing an eating disorder, just like there are people who have a higher risk of developing cancer, or diabetes. But it is the trigger, and whether or not you are vulnerable to that trigger, that determines whether or not you will end up suffering from an eating disorder.

Learn more about this author, Eveline Hessels.
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