Eating disorders in middle-aged women are becoming more common

by Micah George

Thousands of middle-aged women are suffering from eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia, new UK research suggests.

Traditionally a “disease of the young”, the study involving more than 5,000 women, found that 3.6% of women in their 40s and 50s reported having an eating disorder in the last 12 months.

In contrast, around one in 100 women between 15 and 30 have been diagnosed with an eating condition such as anorexia, bulimia or binge eating.

Another commonly reported disorder known as “other specified feeding and eating disorder”, described cases where a person may not fit the precise pattern of eating disorders such as anorexia but still experienced significant distress due to an unhealthy psychological relationship with food.

Susan Clowes, 47, is a carer from Herne Bay. She was not involved in the study but could relate to its findings.

She said: “I never used to really eat as a child because my foster mum had me on a strict diet. As I grew up, I began to pig out more on the food I was never allowed.”

She believes her experience being a foster child was the reason as to why her diet was limited and why she eats the way that she does now.

“My eating habit now is affected by my moods,” she said. “I will only eat whilst I’m happy or content. Sadness or stress means I do not eat.

“This probably isn’t a healthy habit but it works for me. Physically, I feel fine and I see this as a good thing as I’m still very healthy so there is obviously no issue there.”

The researchers also assessed factors that may be associated with the onset of an eating disorder including childhood happiness, parental divorce or separation, life events, relationship with parents, and sexual abuse.

A woman’s risk of suffering from anorexia or bulimia was increased by 4-10% per unit score of ‘unhappiness’ if they reported being unhappy during childhood.

A good mother-daughter relationship was associated with a 20% reduced chance of developing bulimia.

Experts said that GPs should be made aware of the findings to help them diagnose problems in middle-aged women who might be reluctant to reveal an eating disorder.

Christopher Fairburn, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, said: “GPs should be on the lookout and women should be told about this so that they can choose to seek help and know that there are treatments that can help them.”