March 2, 2023 — As an experienced fitness assistant and trainer, Samantha Ward was aware of the impact eating disorder can have on a girl's health. But suddenly the subject became personal.
“I didn't develop an eating disorder until later in life,” says Ward. “I was 55 when it started. I'd never had one before.”
Ward was under tremendous stress. “I think my eating disorder was a way of coping with a very difficult time in my life,” she says. “I had lost my job, my marriage was falling apart and I was struggling with depression.”
Although eating disorders resembling Binge Eating, anorexiaAnd bulimia in older women are rarely discussed, they're a widespread and growing problem. new study from the Yale School of Medicine reports that almost 3% of U.S. women between the ages of fifty and 64 and nearly 2% of ladies ages 65 and older suffer from an eating disorder.
Over and beyond study published in Journal of Eating Disorders found that about 26% of older female participants experienced binge eating at least one time per week. Sometimes medical conditions resembling gastrointestinal problems or dental problems can result in an eating disorder, the researchers found, as can depression and dementia. However, the study authors also report that menopause could also be a time when women are more vulnerable to developing an eating disorder. For example, some women start weight-reduction plan to stop hormonal weight gain and develop a distorted body image.
It could be very essential that an eating disorder in later life is treated as soon as possible.
“Older adults may become frail more quickly than younger people,” says Dorothea Vafiadis, director of the National Council on Aging’s Center for Healthy Aging.
“In older adults, body functions may not recover as quickly as they once did, so eating disorders that result in rapid weight loss can quickly lead to problems.”
Research has shown that 21% of older adults with eating disorders die from the disease. The first essential step: recognize that emotions are often the explanation for the issue.
Emotional causes of eating disorders in older women?
According to the National According to the Council on Aging, some people have a genetic predisposition to eating disorders. There are also three essential patterns of eating disorders in older women. Some women have struggled with eating disorders once they were younger, get better from their disorder, after which relapse. Some women never get better and suffer from it to a point for many of their lives. Other women, like Ward, first develop an eating disorder in response to environmental influences.
“Older women may experience stress and anxiety due to life changes – a female midlife crisis,” says Nancy Lee Zucker, PhD, professor of psychiatry, behavioral sciences and neuroscience at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC. “Some women try to cope by eating and exercising – initially focusing on self-improvement. But then their focus on food can become all-encompassing – it narrows their focus.”
Challenges resembling divorce or widowhood, an empty nest, financial problems, or the transition to retirement can trigger this behavior.
A lady’s overall psychological state may also play a very important role.
“People with certain personality traits may be more prone to eating disorders, such as those with perfectionistic tendencies or compulsive impulses,” says Vafiadis.
Symptoms of an eating disorder in an older woman?
If a friend or loved one is showing any of the next symptoms, they might need assistance:
- Apparently feeling guilty about eating or eating
- Weight loss
- Eating alone
- secrecy
- Constant training
- Expressing emotional anger
- Oral health problems resembling jaw pain or dental problems
If you notice someone going to the lavatory after eating or complaining of stomach problems, the person could also be binge eating and vomiting. “Binge eating has been shown to be more common in older women,” Zucker says, although researchers aren't sure why.
How to treat eating disorders in older women?
The first step is to approach the situation sensitively. If you believe you studied that somebody around you is affected by an eating disorder, remember to offer help. Be gentle and respectful.
“Older women with eating disorders often feel ashamed, so it can be difficult for family and friends to broach the subject,” says Zucker. “Instead, focus on the isolation you've noticed. You might say, 'I've noticed you've been eating alone lately – you don't want to go out to eat anymore. You sound a little down, too.'”
Offer to accompany the person you care about to the doctor and tell them how much they mean to you.
A whole medical examination is amazingly essential.
“The disorder often goes undiagnosed in older people,” says Vafiadia. “Eating disorders in older people are often not the first diagnosis because other health problems are involved.”
Diagnosis of an underlying medical condition that coexists with an eating disorder is crucial.
Depending on the severity of a girl's illness, inpatient treatment could also be the appropriate solution. Australian researchers reported that in adults over 66 years of age, a mixture of hospitalization, drug therapy, and psychotherapy resulted in improvement in almost 80% of the patients surveyed. Cognitive behavioral therapyFamily therapy and dietary counseling are all useful options. Medications to treat eating disorders may include Prozac or Vyvanse.
“The good news is that treatment can really help,” says Zucker.
Ward completely agrees. “I'm currently in treatment,” she says. “I have a great therapist who has helped me get healthy.”
Above all, Ward emphasizes that it is best to not attempt to handle things alone: ”To overcome an eating disorder, you need support.”