Adults and Eating Disorders
While most eating disorders are diagnosed in teens and young adults, older adults aren’t immune to these disorders. Any type of eating disorder is considered a mental illness, not a lifestyle condition. Structure and treatment are available and are the only solution for treating a disease like this. Women in their 40s and older didn’t suffer from these eating disorders as often in the past. In fact, you were hard pressed to find anyone over the age of 30 that was subject to the tortures of an eating disorder in most cases. Today, however, anorexia and bulimia are continuing to become more popular, along with other common eating disorders that are not nearly as publicized.
Adults who have eating disorders need the same treatment as teens, but in a way that works for them. Typically speaking, there are two types of adults who develop eating disorders:
-Women who are successful so far in life but now face sudden challenges or changes
-Those with unresolved issues or disappointments that have been building over time
The reason for developing eating disorders is not really understood yet, but it is a combination of social pressure to be slim and psychological and emotional needs to be in control, in many cases. The way that this condition manifests itself is different in every single person, so there is no one concrete cause or reason that this disorder develops. There isn’t specifically a genetic link for eating disorders, but people who have family members with eating disorders will be at a higher risk because of the shared genes that can affect overall mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Those who are more anxious, fearful, and/or concerned with perfection will be the most likely to develop eating disorders in their lifetime.
Recovery and Eating Disorders
The first step to recovery is to accept the problem and seek help for it. Experts caution that people need to be humble in accepting just how powerful an eating disorder can be. It isn’t about the food, in most cases, but about the control that people get over their lives when they have an eating disorder. Everything else is chaotic and out of their hands, so they control the one thing that they can: their food and their weight. A team approach is usually best for treating eating disorders. The team should consist of a doctor, psychiatrist or counselor, and a nutritionist who can help teach healthy eating habits to someone who has all but lost their way.
50-90% of the people who are diagnosed with eating disorders also have mood disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or impulse control disorders. These have to be treated in addition to the eating disorder for effective results. Creating a structured plan is the key to success with any treatment, because it allows people to have the control that they need in a healthy, constructive way that will improve their lives. Ongoing therapy and family support will help with stress management and keep people on track, but the most important issue is to treat this as the mental disorder that it is instead of sugar-coating it as a ‘lifestyle choice’
