Gender is an issue. Eating disorders are more common in women than in men, but there has been a dramatic increase in the number of boys and young men who have developed the same eating disorders that their female peers experience; both anorexia and bulimia are seen.

Age does matter: while eating disorders have been known to either occur or recur as late as middle age, the bulk of eating disorder sufferers are younger, in their teens or early twenties.

Your chance of developing an eating disorder increases greatly if a family member also suffers from a disorder. You might think it would influence you in the opposite direction, but instead it sometimes makes it socially acceptable.

A person who has a mental disorder such as an OCD can also suffer an eating disorder, as controlling food and eating is another way to control the world around them. Similarly, there is an increased rate of eating disorders in women suffering from depression or anxiety.

Some athletes and exercise fanatics are at risk of developing eating disorders under the pretense that it will enhance their performance.

And then there are the societal pressures that impact your self image to a huge extent. If your mom or sister frequently remarks on your less-than-perfect body and hints that you could lose a few pounds, even with a teasing approach, things can take a terrible twist into an eating disorder that destroys your body.

If you happen to fall into any of the above categories, you should take steps to ensure that you won't fall victim to an eating disorder - or if you already suffer from one, prevent the condition from worsening. Ask your doctor what a healthy weight is for your body type and how best to maintain it.

Work on building your self esteem and confidence and try to avoid people who criticize you all of the time. Don't listen to these bad influences that are driving you to an eating disorder.

Don't get caught up in the dream of looking like the anorexic cover girl on the latest fashion magazine. Even the most gorgeous models will acknowledge that they are grateful for the photo retouching software that makes their bodies look so perfect.