Seniors Have Eating Disorders Too
Posted on: March 18th, 2016
In numerous blogs through the years, I’ve shared research that debunks the many myths and misinformation surrounding eating disorders. The most common one is that only teenage girls develop eating disorders, when in fact men and women of all ages can be afflicted with eating disorders. However the group least likely to enter the discourse is senior citizens.
When you consider the most common catalysts for eating disorders it makes perfect sense that seniors are vulnerable. Eating disorders are not actually about food or weight; they manifest as a method of coping with stress, extreme emotion, or an aspect of an individual’s life that they’re powerless to control. For seniors, eating disorders can be a way to gain attention from family members, to rebel against a changed living environment such as a nursing home, to cope with decreased financial security, health problems, or a diminished enthusiasm for life. Sadly, eating disorders have even been used as a method of passive suicide.
Elderly men differ from elderly women in the types of eating disorders they develop. We need more studies in this area, but current research shows that older men are most likely to develop binge eating disorder, anorexia, and/or bulimia. Senior men also differ in how they experience those same disorders. Their binge eating behavior is not characterized by out-of-control eating but rather consistent overeating to the point of feeling uncomfortably full. Older men with bulimia rarely vomit, instead choosing laxatives as a purging technique. Anorexia for older men seems to be rooted in anger, perhaps tied to unrealized life goals. Men often define themselves through their occupations and retirement can trigger feelings of purposelessness and anger.
Older women, like younger women, are susceptible to developing any of the eating disorders, but as you might expect the psychological backdrop is different. Younger females are often triggered by life transitions such as a family relocation, entering a new high school or going to college. For elderly women the impetus is commonly empty nest syndrome, divorce or widowhood, loss of a parent, especially if they have been a primary caregiver, and the feeling of purposelessness that can be created by retirement.
When treating seniors, professionals focus on the many challenging issues they’re faced with in the latter stage of life, including loss, anger, lack of purpose, family conflicts, and self-esteem. Healing begins when healthy coping behaviors replace unhealthy coping behaviors that fixate on food and weight loss.
If you or a senior in your life are suffering with an eating disorder seek professional help immediately. Contact Maureen Kritzer-Lange Psychotherapy at 973-313-1691 or info@maureenkritzerlange.com
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