Older Women and Eating Disorders

January 18th, 2010

By Jeanne Rust, PhD


Body dissatisfaction: it’s not just for teens and young women anymore.

Eating disorders are on the rise among middle aged and older women. And they are often misdiagnosed — not only because they’re unexpected — but because weight loss and changes in appetite can also occur as a result of illness or medication.

Our culture’s obsession with youth, thinness and looking good can cause many older women to experiment with compulsive exercise or dieting to ward off the signs of aging.
Older women may also experience increased trauma as the result of the death of a spouse, divorce, children leaving home, menopause or a combination of sources. For some women, even natural aging can be traumatic. They look in the mirror and no longer see the bright, hopeful face of their youth.

When a traumatic event occurs, some women may choose to focus on the things they can control — like their eating, weight and fitness — rather than experience the pain of events that are completely out of their control (like the aging process).

A recent study in Austria is one of the first to look at poor body image and eating disorders in older women. The study included a random group of 475 women between the ages of 60-70.
90% of the women in the study felt fat, and 60% were dissatisfied with their bodies! Over 80% of the women made great efforts to maintain or lose weight. 4% of the women had clinical eating disorders, and another 4% had at least one symptom of an eating disorder, such as abuse of laxatives, diuretics, vomiting, bingeing, or compulsive exercise.

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Gut Reactions: Eating Disorders and Digestive Problems

July 30th, 2009

By Dr. Dawn Bantel, Medical Director, Mirasol Eating Disorder Recovery Centers

Dr. Dawn BantelI don’t think that I’ve ever met an eating disordered client that didn’t struggle with digestive issues. The digestive tract is directly affected by binging, purging and restricting. The discomfort from digestive problems is a common obstacle to recovery. It’s such a challenge for women to adhere to their meal plans when their bodies are rebelling.

Women with eating disorders often experience heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating and constipation. Fortunately, naturopathic supplements are very effective in assisting efficient digestion. Using digestive enzymes with meals assists in the breakdown of foods. A probiotic supplement can reduce gas, bloating and constipation. Drinking aloe vera juice can calm heartburn. And I often prescribe a magnesium citrate supplement to ensure regularity.

The whole foods approach is healing in itself. Whole foods supply needed fiber. Many people have too little fiber in their diets. I may encourage the use of ground flax meal to increase one’s fiber intake. Water is important for regularity, especially in the desert environment. A minimum of half your weight in ounces should be ingested each day.

Finally, the most important “supplement” is reducing stress and anxiety. Our program emphases the creation of stress-management tools for each client. Yoga, bodywork and healthy exercise are encouraged as lifestyle changes. I also help women train their bodies by allowing regular bathroom time. These are all important and effective components of healthy digestion.

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Transformational Living Center Open House

July 6th, 2009

TLC Open HouseMirasol opened its new Transformational Living Center (TLC) on June 15, and just a few weeks later, we celebrated with an Open House in honor of Mirasol’s 10th Anniversary. Guests were invited to tour the new 10-bed facility, and to share a fabulous buffet prepared by Mirasol’s world-famous chefs.

TLC is a new program based on 10 years of research into the most effective options for eating disorder treatment and relapse prevention. Like Mirasol’s primary residential program, it combines traditional therapy with alternative therapies proven effective in the treatment of chronic stress-related conditions. However, TLC recognizes that not everyone can take time out for long-term residential care, so its flexible program emphasizes real world skills and therapies that can achieve rapid improvements in the client’s ability to cope with stress.

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Are Eating Disorders Hereditary?

June 3rd, 2009

Biological Theories and the Development of an Eating Disorder

One of the questions that seems to arise again and again is, “My aunt and my mother had an eating disorder.

  • Is it hereditary?
  • Am I at risk?

The high incidence of eating disorders in families has led researchers to think that there might be a genetic influence in the development of them. Studies have shown that 58% to 76% of the occurrence of anorexia nervosa can be attributed to genetic factors.

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Treatment of Eating Disorders and Anxiety

June 1st, 2009

I read a newsletter the other day about how knitting can help alleviate anxiety for patients in an eating disorder treatment center. According to a study published in Eating and Weight Disorders: Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, “theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that performing a concurrent visuospatial task reduces the emotional intensity of distressing images.” To determine whether a “visuospatial” task like knitting could reduce the anxious preoccupation experienced by anorexics, the researchers provided knitting lessons and free supplies to 38 women who were being treated for anorexia in a specialized eating disorder unit.

They found that 74% of the women reported that knitting lessened the intensity of their fears and thoughts and cleared their minds of eating disorder preoccupations. An equal number reported it had a calming and therapeutic effect, and 53% reported it provided satisfaction, pride and a sense of accomplishment.

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