Parents of teenagers, and especially teenage girls, are aware of the fear of the development of eating disorders. And if such arises, they will contact the right professional for consultation. It also happens that the teenagers themselves warn of the beginning of a disorder and ask for help from their parents or an educator.
But what happens when a woman in her second puberty is faced with an eating disorder? Is there enough awareness of the signs of the disorder even then? The myth that eating disorders belong to teenagers may cause these women to remain undiagnosed and untreated. Eating disorders usually appear during the developmental transitions of adolescence. The sensitive periods are at the beginning and end of puberty. At these ages the challenges facing girls (and boys too) are great. But attention should also be given to menopausal women. Menopause symbolizes the transition from the age of fertility to the age when there is no longer a monthly cycle and the woman is not fertile.
The transition period is called perimenopause and it usually occurs towards the end of the fourth decade and lasts on average about four years. This period is characterized by extreme hormonal changes when the symptoms are varied – from emotional reactions of mood swings to an increase in the risk of depression. On top of that, due to changes in the menstrual cycle, there may be an increase in blood pressure, an increase in blood lipids and also weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
At the end of this period comes menopause. One of the significant physical manifestations at this stage is weight gain. An average increase of about half a kg per year. Studies indicate a cumulative increase of up to 8 kg. In addition, with advancing age there is a natural decrease in the rate of metabolism (metabolism), more fat is stored and one of the results is a moderate weight gain, even if the calorie intake does not change.
The distribution of fat in the body also changes during menopause. The accumulation of extra fat is in the abdominal area and not the thighs. The changes are not always received with understanding and compassion. Next to these, the house is emptied, and the general feeling may be that these women will feel less attractive in any sense, including physical. All of these can cause increased preoccupation with eating and weight and/or calorie reduction with excessive physical activity. It’s worth paying attention: does the occupation lead to conscious, balanced and healthier eating that improves the feeling and the physical state, or does it on the contrary – does the occupation cause obsession with eating, and eating that is not correct to the point of eating disorders?
Eating disorders are often accompanied by other mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, and take a toll on almost every system in the body, including the digestive system, skeleton, heart and blood vessels. Increased risk of nutritional deficiencies, reduced ability of the body to deal with diseases, negative effects on bone and heart health. An older woman’s body may be particularly vulnerable to medical complications and impairment of quality of life.
A study from 2017, conducted by Dr. Paul Rudd and his colleagues and published in the “International Journal of Eating Disorders” magazine, examined the effect of age on risk factors for eating disorders. It was found that while the rates of anorexia nervosa stabilize around the age of 26, the rates of bulimia nervosa stabilize around the age of 47 , and rates of compulsive eating disorder do not stabilize until the 70s. Compulsive eating disorder involves eating large amounts of food at a specified time, sometimes in secret until feeling uncomfortably full. Bulimia nervosa includes compulsive eating and then compensatory behavior such as compulsive vomiting, excessive use of laxatives. , fasting or excessive physical activity. Anorexia nervosa refers to severe food restriction or avoidance, sometimes with frequent monitoring of weight and perception of excess weight even when dangerously underweight.
More studies and data are lacking to estimate the prevalence of the disorder in Israel, and in general in the world. But it seems that some eating disorders develop at young ages and continue into adulthood, and some develop in the sensitive period around menopause.
Signs of an eating disorder
At these ages, it is more difficult to notice the eating disorder from the outside. This is not a teenager who is under the scrutiny of parents, teachers and even friends. When it comes to an eating disorder that reduces food consumption, sometimes even the same woman will be perceived by those around her as determined and successful. In a world that celebrates thinness, they will sometimes be considered better looking.
Sometimes these women will turn to a dietitian with a request to help them lose weight. Alternatively, if it is bulimia or binge eating, there is not always someone who can identify it. In an eating disorder there is shame and concealment that those who suffer from it know how to hide well. For example, not eating at a meal with friends, but coming home at night to binge eat while making sure that the spouse and children do not notice it. Those with an eating disorder do not always understand that they have a problem, deny it or do not want to change the behavior even though they understand the meaning.
It is important to know the warning signs of eating disorders or an emerging eating disorder. The signs are behavioral and psychological. The signs include intense participation in sports, avoiding eating, obsessive calculation of calories, vomiting and the use of laxatives, but also less noticeable symptoms such as establishing strict eating habits (not eating after a certain time, reducing certain food groups), avoiding eating outside the house, a lot of preoccupation with cooking or reading about Healthy eating and food, changes in mood depending on weight gain/loss and a lot of preoccupation with other people’s weight.
It is important to remember that in an eating disorder body weight is not a symptom (it can be low, normal or high). There are not always legalities – the disorder can change from a reducing disorder (reduced consumption of food) to an acute disorder (on the same day, on varying days or over a period of time). The disorder has no age nor does it have a gender. Although we dealt with women in this section, eating disorders also exist in boys and men. Either way, it takes a mental and health toll.