Older Adults & Eating Disorders
Research indicates that eating disorders may present in a number of ways in older adults:
- Severe cases of an earlier onset eating disorder without a period of recovery
- A relapse of a past eating disorder
- Late onset
Potential background factors
- Sexual abuse
- Non-sexual trauma or abuse such as having experienced violence in childhood
- Major depression, depressive symptoms or past depression
- Stress
- Negative body image
- Health and medical problems
- The loss of loved ones due to death or divorce
- Reduced social activities, changes in relationships with family and friends
- Marked biological and developmental changes – menopausal status and ageing anxiety
- A fear of being overweight
- A higher frequency of dieting behaviours
- Distorted daily thoughts about food
- Weight-related teasing in childhood and adulthood
- Weight dissatisfaction
- Binge eating, extreme weight control and body checking behaviours
Impact and quality of life
- Difficulties in relationships, limited contact with friends and extended family
- Difficulties confiding in others and in talking openly about feelings
- Limited time devoted to leisure activity
Treatment issues
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