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Sociological
Increased incidence of anorexia nervosa has been linked to vulnerability and internalization of body ideals. There is a possible connection between anorexia nervosa and culture; culture may be a cause, a trigger, or merely a kind of social address or envelope which determines in which segments of society or in which cultures anorexia nervosa will appear. The thesis of this connection is that culture acts as a cause by providing a blueprint for anorexia nervosa. A moderate thesis is that specific cultural factors trigger the illness which is determined by many factors including family interactions, individual psychology, or biological predisposition. Culture change can trigger the emergence of anorexia in adolescent girls from immigrant families living in highly industrialized Western Societies.

Certain subcultures have been found to have higher rates of eating disorders than the general population including ballet dancers, models, skaters, gymnasts, rowers, jockeys and wrestlers. There is a higher incidence and prevalence of anorexia nervosa in sports with an emphasis on aesthetics, where low body fat is advantageous, and sports in which one has to make weight for competition.

Anorexia nervosa is more likely to occur in a person's pubertal years. Some explanatory hypotheses for the rising prevalence of eating disorders in adolescence are "increase of adipose tissue in girls, hormonal changes of puberty, societal expectations of increased independence and autonomy that are particularly difficult for anorexic adolescents to meet; [and] increased influence of the peer group and its values."

It has also been noted that anorexia nervosa is more likely to occur in populations in which obesity is more prevalent. It has been suggested that anorexia nervosa results from a sexually selected evolutionary drive to appear youthful in populations in which size becomes the primary indicator of age.

There is also evidence to suggest that patients who have anorexia nervosa can be characterised by alexithymia and also a deficit in certain emotional functions. A research study showed that this was the case in both adult and adolescent anorexia nervosa patients.

Early theories of the cause of anorexia linked it to childhoodsexual abuse or dysfunctional families. Some studies reported a high rate of reported child sexual abuse experiences in clinical groups of people who have been diagnosed with anorexia. Evidence is conflicting regarding the comorbidity of childhood sexual abuse and anorexia nervosa and is in need of further research.

No one factor alone is responsible for the onset of anorexia nervosa; however it is clear that certain circumstances increase incidence and pose significant risk factors.

Media Effects
Constant exposure to media that presents body ideals may constitute a risk factor for body dissatisfaction and anorexia nervosa. The cultural ideal for body shape for men versus women continues to favor slender women and athletic, V-shaped muscular men. A 2002 review found that of the 10 magazines most popular among people aged 18 to 24 years the magazines read by men, unlike those read by women, were more likely to feature ads and articles on shape than on diet. Body image research suggests that male body dissatisfaction is now comparable in prevalence to the rates reported in females. Body dissatisfaction and internalization of body ideals are risk factors for anorexia nervosa that threaten the health of both male and female populations.

Furthermore, websites that stress the importance of attainment of body ideals have surfaced on the Internet. Such sites extol and promote anorexia nervosa through the use of religious metaphors, lifestyle descriptions, "thinspiration" or "fitspiration" (inspirational photo galleries and quotes that aim to serve as motivators for attainment of body ideals). Pro-anorexia websites reinforce internalization of body ideals and the importance of their attainment.