Eating Disorders in Midlife
Eating disorders in midlife, How does someone with an eating disorder look? A picture of a young, waiflike woman walking down a catwalk with exposed bones is probably the first image that comes to mind. Her older sisters, however, are not immune to bulimia, anorexia, or binge eating. More women at midlife and beyond than stereotypes suggest attempt risky weight-control measures.
It’s no secret that most of us have dieted at some point, with some of us doing so frequently. But Harvard specialists warn that as women age, They may experience particular pressures that increase their risk of developing eating disorders. Particularly for an aging body, the rigors of calorie restriction or binge-purge cycles might have worsening health implications.
A 2019 study published in JAMA Network Open found that by the age of 40, one in five women had experienced an eating problem. Which is twice the percentage found in women at the age of 21. According to Dr. Holly Peek, associate medical director of the Klarman Eating Disorders Center at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital. Many cases are probably a recurrence of a long-simmering trend from earlier years that may have gone unnoticed.
According to Dr. Peek
“Many women with Eating disorders in midlife have had the problem for most of their lives.” And many people begin going through significant life transformations around the age of 40 that are entirely different from those of an adolescent or young woman.
More so than officially recognized eating disorders, disordered eating that just barely toes the line between normal and harmful is also very widespread. “Up until about midlife, it could appear as yo-yo dieting, chronic dieting, or excessive exercise. When menopause-related changes to their bodies cause them to step it up. Even more, women can become caught up in this identity of being a gym rat who eats extremely clean “says Dr. Peek. “They might not even perceive it as a problem. It becomes quite challenging.”
Midlife risk factors | Eating disorders in midlife
There are numerous variations of eating disorders. But three types predominate binge eating disorder, which involves consuming enormous amounts of food after feeling full, and bulimia nervosa. Which involves bingeing followed by purging through vomiting or laxative use, and anorexia nervosa. Which is characterized by extreme food restrictions.
A November 2017 study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that the prevalence of bulimia reaches its peak at age 47. But the prevalence of anorexia declines after age 26. The most prevalent eating issue in adults, binge eating disorder, can still be a problem for women in their 70s.
What has sustained such a pathological obsession with food and weight over the years? Women in their midlife and later years may be attempting to maintain their competitiveness in the workplace. Where being slender may be linked with youth, or they may be making a comeback on the dating scene following divorce or widowhood. The shock of an empty nest may also inspire efforts to redefine one’s body.