Eating Disorders in Middle-Aged Women

Abstract

Eating disorders are generally viewed as afflicting females during adolescence and early adulthood. However, in recent years there has been a growing recognition that these disorders may occur during midlife as well. When eating disorders have been observed in middle age, they have often been believed to be associated with depression. In an Internet survey, responses by middle-aged women (N = 290; aged 45-60 years) indicated that the factors significantly associated with eating pathology—body image dissatisfaction, sociocultural pressures to be thin, and perfectionism—closely parallel those reported for younger people. Furthermore, in the presence of these factors, depression and concerns about the effects of aging on appearance are not significantly related to eating pathology.

Keywords:

• aging and eating pathology
• body dissatisfaction
• middle-aged women
• midlife eating disorders