Anorexia and other eating disorders among older women—in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond—are not uncommon and, according to some experts, are increasing.
"There is a misconception that this is primarily or exclusively an adolescent or college women's issue," says Claire Mysko, administrative director of the American Anorexia/Bulimia Association in New York City. But, Mysko says, "We are definitely seeing older women -- more and more so."No statistics exist to show how many women 30 and over have eating disorders. At the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia in New York City, about a quarter of the patients are over 30, while the majority of the people in support groups run by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders in Highland Park are 30 or older.About 8 million Americans suffer from eating disorders, with about 86 percent first seeing symptoms by age 20. The condition is often chronic; patients who don't recover and who don't die from their illness continue to experience symptoms into their middle years and even into retirement age."Anorexia nervosa in the elderly is just becoming recognized," says Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychiatrist at the University of British Columbia who has studied anorexia deaths in nursing homes. "I believe that with the increasing age of the population, we will be seeing more cases of older anorexia sufferers."Older women with eating disorders fit into three categories: those who have struggled with the disorder since their teens; those who had an early occurrence, but recovered and remained symptom-free until later years; and those whose symptoms first cropped up well past their teen years. Experts also say older women are more likely to be bulimic -- to binge and purge, either through vomiting or through the use of laxatives -- than they are to be anorexic.
Anorexia and other eating disorders among older women—in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond—are not uncommon and, according to some experts, are increasing."There is a misconception that this is primarily or exclusively an adolescent or college women's issue," says Claire Mysko, administrative director of the American Anorexia/Bulimia Association in New York City. But, Mysko says, "We are definitely seeing older women -- more and more so."No statistics exist to show how many women 30 and over have eating disorders. At the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia in New York City, about a quarter of the patients are over 30, while the majority of the people in support groups run by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders in Highland Park are 30 or older.About 8 million Americans suffer from eating disorders, with about 86 percent first seeing symptoms by age 20. The condition is often chronic; patients who don't recover and who don't die from their illness continue to experience symptoms into their middle years and even into retirement age."Anorexia nervosa in the elderly is just becoming recognized," says Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychiatrist at the University of British Columbia who has studied anorexia deaths in nursing homes. "I believe that with the increasing age of the population, we will be seeing more cases of older anorexia sufferers."Older women with eating disorders fit into three categories: those who have struggled with the disorder since their teens; those who had an early occurrence, but recovered and remained symptom-free until later years; and those whose symptoms first cropped up well past their teen years. Experts also say older women are more likely to be bulimic -- to binge and purge, either through vomiting or through the use of laxatives -- than they are to be anorexic.
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