How eating disorders affect your whole life: A new study on EDs and overall health

Eating disorders, often associated with adolescents, are increasingly being recognized as affecting women throughout their lives, including midlife.

A recent study highlights that negative body image is a significant trigger for eating disorders during perimenopause.

Let's find out more!

Researching the correlation between EDs and women's' health

While eating disorders impact around 13% of ladies across various ages, prevalence among women over 40 is approximately 3.5%, with certain symptoms, like dissatisfaction with their eating patterns, reported as high as 30%.

The severity of eating disorders, which involve disturbances in eating behavior and body image, is also pretty much linked to high mortality and morbidity rates.

While these risks are exacerbated in older age groups, few studies have delved into eating disorders among midlife women, encompassing all three menopause stages.

Evidence indicates that perimenopausal ladies exhibit higher rates of dysregulated eating behaviors compared to other reproductive stages, notably in terms of negative body image and feelings of fatness.

Why it's important

Although more research is required, this study employs network analysis statistical models to explore eating disorder symptoms during perimenopause and early postmenopause, revealing that negative body image is a significant risk factor for EDs in midlife.

The study emphasizes that fear of weight gain and loss of control over eating habits are pivotal symptoms during perimenopause and early postmenopause, reinforcing the need for targeted treatment strategies for midlife women dealing with eating disorders.
 

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• food
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• 21 August 2023

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