Anorexia and bulimia are complex eating disorders and different people can develop them for different reasons. Major life changes, family problems, social problems and failure at school can all trigger eating disorders in susceptible individuals. The exact cause of these disorders is not known but sufferers do share certain personality traits: anxiety, low self-esteem, insecurity and feelings of helplessness. They want to feel better but their eating behaviours cause more pain and distress and it becomes very difficult for them to escape the loop. Food becomes the one thing in their life they can control and they use this external means to cope with internal issues. They do not realise how harmful their behaviour is or the devastating effect it can have on their long-term physical health. Out culture is in part to blame - by idealising thinness it gives young women an unrealistic measure of beauty and success. Television make over shows are particularly guilty of this, the message being that if you lose weight, change your hairstyle or have cosmetic surgery you too can be happy and loved. Size zero models on the catwalk are an equally bad influence. Magazines are full of pictures of ultra slim, attractive women and the subliminal message is that unless you too look like this you will never achieve what you want in life. Trying to attain this level of perfection can have tragic consequences. Many normal weight and even underweight girls are unhappy with their body size and shape. This emphasis on appearance leads to body dissatisfaction and aberrant behaviours to control food intake. Although these disorders affect mainly females the incidence among males is increasing and the boys seem to share the same personality traits as the girls. Currently about 10% of those referred for eating disorders are male. Disordered eating occurs across all ethnic and racial groups. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating tend to peak between adolescence and early adulthood but they are becoming more prevalent in all age groups. Pre-pubescent girls as young as nine years can be affected which is a very worrying trend. These disorders have become one of the main health issues facing young women today and death rates are among the highest for any psychological illness. Parents have a large role to play in the prevention of eating disorders. If they have healthy attitudes about their own bodies, provide nutritious, well balanced meals and eat meals together with their children as often as possible then they are giving their children the best possible start in life. Some people are born with personality traits that predispose them to eating disorders but positive family dynamics and role models can help them develop a more healthy way of relating to food. Dieting is one of the most common triggers for an eating disorder. For the sake of your children do not diet and do let them diet. Practice good nutrition and eat sensibly as a family. Exercise and play together. Prevention of these disorders is much easier than cure.