At Fairwinds Treatment Center, we know first-hand that there is truly no mold when it comes to eating disorders, substance abuse and other self-destructive behaviors. In fact, misconceptions about who is most susceptible to these patterns can lead friends and family members to overlook warning signs in loved ones.
That being said, it can still help to familiarize yourself with established risk factors for these behaviors, as they may point to overarching trends that can be addressed through therapy and changing societal norms. For example, a recent Swedish study revealed that twins and triplets may be more likely to require treatment for anorexia than peers who are not multiple births. Overall, these individuals displayed a 33 percent boost in the risk of developing the eating disorder, LiveScience reports.
"The findings held even after the researchers took into account other factors related to the child's birth or their mother's characteristics that could explain the link, such as whether the child was preterm, or if the mother smoked," the source states.
Researchers reportedly could not provide an explanation for this connection. However, considering the degree of scrutiny and direct comparison that twins and triplets often experience throughout their lives, it is possible that these individuals could be more prone to self-esteem issues that ultimately manifests themselves physically. Further investigation is required to confirm this correlation, but for now parents of twins or triplets may consider evaluating the needs of their children as individuals and keep an eye out for symptoms of obsessive behavior or weight control.
If you are concerned that you child may be fighting an eating disorder, consider seeking help from an anorexia treatment center. The eating disorder program at Fairwinds Treatment Center in Clearwater, Florida, is led by Dr. Pauline Powers. Dr. Powers is founding president of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), past president of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and a founding member of the Eating Disorders Research Society. She has devoted decades of her professional career to eating disorder research and treatment, and is internationally renowned for her contributions to this field.
