Eating pathology in midlife women: Similar or different to younger counterparts?

Paul Jenkins, Thomas Price

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective
This study examined potential similarities and differences between women with eating disorders (EDs) in midlife and their younger counterparts.
Method
Seven hundred and three women assessed by a specialist eating disorder service were divided into three groups based on age (18–25, 25–40, and 40+) and compared on a number of clinical and demographic measures. Distribution of ED diagnoses was also examined between groups.
Results
Midlife women were less likely to receive a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and more likely to receive a diagnosis of binge‐eating disorder than their younger counterparts. Duration of illness was longer and age of ED onset later in the midlife group but no differences were seen on measures of global ED pathology, psychosocial impairment, or psychological distress.
Discussion
This study adds to the developing literature concerning EDs in midlife women, although further work is needed to support the findings presented here and to examine profiles of males presenting to treatment centers.
Original languageEnglish
Article number51
Pages (from-to)3-9
JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders
Early online date4 Dec 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2018

Keywords

  • age of onset, anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, diagnosis, middle-age,midlife

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