Body dissatisfaction associated with eating disorders in midlife women

Similar to younger women, midlife women’s dissatisfaction with their body was linked to eating disorder pathology, according to the findings of a small study published in Menopause.

“Research in the eating disorder field is beginning to recognize the importance of including this typically underrepresented population in empirical studies, which is critical to a complete etiological understanding,” Jody E. Finch, BS, who was a student in the department of psychology at Georgia State University at the time of the study, and colleagues wrote. “However, such studies often fail to consider the developmental/reproductive stages of biological women at midlife (eg, premenopause, perimenopause, menopause).”

Finch and colleagues enrolled participants from the Perimenopausal Estrogen Replacement Therapy (PERT) study, which was a clinical trial on the effects of estrogen replacement therapy on depression and CV risk factors among women aged 45 to 60 years. Menopausal status was defined using the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) criteria.

In total, 36 participants completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), which assessed eating disorder symptoms related to restraint, eating concern, shape concern and weight concern. The researchers used network analyses to determine associations between eating disorder symptoms.

Network analysis statistical models revealed that shape dissatisfaction, weight dissatisfaction, fear of losing control of their eating, fear of gaining weight and self-judgment influenced by weight were the top central eating disorder symptoms. Dissatisfaction with shape and weight formed a strong cluster on the network model.

“This study shows that, similar to studies in young adults, dissatisfaction with body image remains a core feature of eating disorder pathology in midlife women,” Stephanie Faubion, MD, MBA, medical director of NAMS and a Healio Women’s Health & OB/GYN Peer Perspective Board Member, said in a press release. “Specifically, fear of gaining weight and fear of losing control over eating habits are central symptoms of eating disorders in perimenopause and early postmenopause. These findings may help direct more targeted treatment strategies in women during midlife.”

References:

• Body dissatisfaction can lead to eating disorders at any age. www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/press-release/eating-disorder-symptoms-peri-and-postmenopause.pdf. Published Jan. 18, 2023. Accessed Jan. 20, 2023.
• Finch JE, et al. Menopause. 2023;doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002141.