Eating disorders are commonly associated with young women but a new survey has revealed that middle-aged women in the UK are also at risk. Published in the journal BMC Medicine, the study found that 15% of middle-aged women had experienced an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime and, over the last year, 3.6% had developed a disorder.
The cross-sectional analysis, which used data from an existing longitudinal study, investigated the prevalence of the disorder and also the childhood, parenting and personality risk factors associated with the onset of an eating disorder. A sample of 9,233 women (with an average age of 48 years) completed a version of the Eating Disorders Diagnostic Schedule. Those who screened positive were interviewed to assess presence, frequency and duration of behaviours associated with eating disorders, and were asked to relate any changes in their eating behaviours with major life events.
Anorexia nervosa was the most common lifetime disorder (3.6%), and childhood events, including sexual abuse, death of a carer and parental divorce, were associated with the onset of eating disorders. If you think you may be affected, contact your GP or find support through b-eat.co.uk.