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You are here: Home / Mind and Body / An Unseen Face of Eating Disorders

June 16, 2017

An Unseen Face of Eating Disorders

Teenage girls and twenty-something young women tend to be the “face” of eating disorders. The truth of the matter is that these young females are not the only populations that suffer from these diseases. An often unseen face of eating disorders are middle-aged women (ages 40-60).

Middle-aged women who suffer from eating disorders tend to fall into one of three groups: 1) those who have suffered from an eating disorder since a younger age and are just now seeking treatment, 2) those who suffered from an eating disorder at a younger age, sought treatment, and have now relapsed back into an active eating disorder, or 3) those women who did not develop an eating disorder until they reached middle age.

Much like their younger counter parts, middle aged women see food as a way to establish control over their bodies and their lives that may seem out of control. Controlling their food gives these women an emotional outlet and gives them a feeling of pwoman-797390_1280ower over their lives.

Middle-aged women can experience stress factors similar to their younger counter parts such body dissatisfaction and societal pressure to be thin. There are also several stressors that are unique to middle-aged women such as divorce, career or financial troubles, parenting troubles, loss of a parent, or even the effects of menopause.

These women are more likely to suffer from binge eating disorder, other specified feeding or eating disorder (formerly eating disorder not otherwise specified), or sub-threshold eating disorders (symptoms or characteristics of an eating disorder, but not enough to meet criteria of a full diagnosis).

While little research has been done on middle-aged women with eating disorders, one thing is clear: eating disorders are not age specific, and this population cannot be ignored. To find out more, get help, or assist a loved one experiencing an eating disorder, visit the National Eating Disorders Association.

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WRITTEN BY: Written by Kristi Campbell, Stark State Dietetic Technician Student Intern and Christine Kendle, MS, RDN, LD, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension Tuscarawas County.

REVIEWED BY: Kate Shumaker, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Holmes County

SOURCES:

  • Dennis, K., CEDS, CEO/Medical Director Emeritus of Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center. (2016, July 25). Causes of Middle-Aged Women Eating Disorders. Retrieved October 22, 2016, from https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/special-issues/older-women/causes
  • Michaud, D. (2014, January 12). Eating Disorders in Women at Mid-Life. Retrieved October 25, 2016, from http://theprojectheal.org/eating-disorders-in-women-at-mid-life/
  • National Eating Disorders Association. (2016) Retrieved November 3, 2016 http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

Categories: Mind and Body
Tags: Eating Disorder

Avatar for Christine Kendle
Avatar for Christine Kendle

About Christine Kendle

Christine Kendle, MS, RDN, LD, enjoys working for Ohio State University Extension in Tuscarawas County as an Extension Educator in Family and Consumer Sciences. Prior to coming to Extension, Chris worked extensively in the areas of child and public health nutrition. She is also the mother of two busy girls, so creating healthy, child friendly meals is a passion. She also enjoys teaching about food preservation and food safety as it relates to both the food service operators and the consumer. Chris is currently the chair for the Tuscarawas County Fit Youth Initiative and also serves on the Healthy Tusc Executive Board.

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