How come many girls are entirely satisfied with their figures, while so many others will never be content? The problem often goes much deeper than just having low self-esteem - there are numerous factors that can make you vulnerable to having an eating disorder at some time in your life.

A common factor in eating disorders is your gender. But even though more females than males experience this illness, there's a disturbing increase in the number of young men who are inclined to be bulimic or anorexic. It's not just a women's problem anymore.

Age may be a factor but not necessarily the only determinant. Anyone can suffer from an eating disorder, and they can arise in middle-aged people. Most victims can trace the roots of their disorder to their teens or early twenties.

Another factor is having someone who is close to you who has an eating disorder. For instance, if a family member or a close friend suffers from an eating disorder, your risk rises. This is counterintuitive but has been shown by studies to be the case.

Persons with compulsive behavior such as an OCD are also far more likely than the general public to develop these disorders. These people have a tendency to develop eating disorders as another way of maintaining control over their environment. Women who suffer from anxiety disorders or depression are also at increased risk.

Another risk factor is having a fixation with exercise. If you're overdoing it at the gym or you participate in competitive athletics, then you could be more likely to develop an eating disorder because you incorrectly think that depriving your body of food will improve your 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 think you fit into any of these scenarios, you'll need to stop yourself before you go any further towards an eating disorder. Visit your physician and talk to her about the problem. Get the facts on what a healthy weight and calorie intake is for you.

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.