What you need to know if you or a loved one is at risk.
By Kristen Sturt • September 28, 2020
When you picture someone with an eating disorder, you
probably imagine a teenage girl.
Increasingly, however, conditions like anorexia, bulimia, or
binge eating disorder (BED) are being diagnosed in adults — including those
over 50.
Some reports have indicated that eating disorders (EDs)
among older people, most often women, may be on the rise. The Renfrew Center,
which specializes in treating eating disorders, recently noted a 42% increase within a decade in women over 35
pursuing treatment.
It’s not clear, though, whether more older people are
developing eating disorders, or whether an increased awareness has led to the
problem being more frequently identified. Often, experts say, it’s a
decades-old issue that’s finally been recognized and given a name.
“You definitely are hearing a lot of stories about women in
their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s who are being diagnosed with eating disorders that
have been around for a lifetime,” says Chevese Turner, Chief Policy and
Strategy Officer at the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
But while EDs are serious for all age groups, Turner says
the illnesses are especially dangerous for older people. They can lead to—or
worsen—nutritional deficiencies, diabetes,
osteoporosis, kidney problems, and gastrointestinal issues, not to
mention heart disease.
They can even threaten your life; one report found that between 2008 and
2009, people age 45-plus accounted for a quarter of eating disorder
hospitalizations.
Why older people are at risk
Potential triggers for EDs include low self-esteem and
social pressure. While those certainly affect people of all ages, midlife often
brings additional, unique challenges that raise the chances even more.
One
treatment center reported a 42% increase in women over 35 seeking help for
eating disorders.
“Transitions such as a divorce or a traumatic event can make
it more likely for this to happen,” says Maria Rago, a clinical psychologist
and president of the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated
Disorders (ANAD). Ongoing problems like chronic illness, financial strain, and
caring for elderly parents or grown children can up the odds, too. Even
worrying about retirement or an empty nest has an effect.
And then there’s aging itself. Women especially may struggle
with physical changes like weight gain, wrinkles, and sagging. One study cited
menopause as a frequent catalyst. “We know that often times, big metabolic
changes in a woman’s life will be a time when an eating disorder will emerge,
and menopause is one of those times,” says Turner.
How to recognize an eating disorder
Though more older women are seeking help for EDs, the
condition still often goes unrecognized. That’s partly because fewer people and
medical professionals think to look for it, and partly because one obvious
symptom—weight loss—can be an indicator of many other health issues.
With that said, being thin isn’t necessarily a sign of an
ED, says Turner—and they can also occur in people of all sizes. She suggests
looking for these signs as well:
Dramatic weight fluctuations. This is called
weight cycling, says Turner: “They’re losing a lot of weight and then they’re
gaining it back, and those cycles are happening over and over again.”
Constant dieting, weight fixation, and
problems eating in front of others. Some people may outright refuse to
eat certain food groups. “Very often times we see people [with] orthorexia,
meaning they only eat ‘health’ foods,” says Turner. “And anything that is
deemed a junk food, they won’t touch.”
Other mental health issues, such as
depression or anxiety.
These can magnify each other and contribute to isolation—another exacerbating
factor.
How to get treatment for an eating disorder
If you’re concerned that a parent or friend may be
struggling, you may have the impulse to reach out for a heart-to-heart. But
it’s important to tread carefully, says Turner: “It’s very, very difficult for
anyone with an eating disorder to talk about it because there’s so much shame.”
Don’t be surprised if your loved one denies needing help,
she adds, or simply think they’re too old for it.
“It’s
very, very difficult for anyone with an eating disorder to talk about it
because there’s so much shame.”
Chevese
Turner, Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at the National Eating Disorders
Association
You may have more success broaching the topic by introducing
basic information about eating disorders, and seeing if your loved one seems
open to a longer conversation.
If it’s an aging parent, see if you can talk to their
doctor. That could also help rule out any medical issues that may be causing
the problem.
If you think there’s any chance you might have an ED, it’s
essential that you seek medical help. Work with a mental health professional
who specifically specializes in these disorders, says Turner. Get your primary
physician involved, too, since your treatment may involve nutritional and
medical issues along with your emotional concerns. “Hormonal changes that come
with aging may be a factor,” says Rago.
Organizations like ANAD and NEDA can also offer helplines and
resources to help you figure out a way forward—including NEDA’s online screening tool.
Finally, have some patience with yourself: For many
patients, recovery can take years. Says Turner: “The disorder didn’t happen
overnight, more than likely, and it’s going to take some time to recover.”
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