Eating Disorders and the Menopause - Tredd Directory

Menopause

Studies have shown that eating disorders, particularly binge eating and bulimia nervosa, are surprisingly common in middle-aged and older women and may even be comparable to prevalence in younger women. Estimates suggest about 3.5% of people in the menopausal phase are also experiencing an eating disorder but experts warn that the actual figure is likely much higher, as many women in the grip of “meno-rexia” are often too afraid to seek help.

While not all women will experience menopausal symptoms, most do with many women finding that their work and family lives are significantly impacted. The most common symptoms are hot flushes, disturbed sleep, low mood and energy levels, anxiety, low sexual drive and impaired memory. Alongside all these physiological symptoms, there are many other changes that might be happening around this time. Menopause often coincides with other milestones such as adult children leaving home, marital breakdown, illness or the challenges of looking after aging parents. Inevitably, a new identity is also emerging.

The menopause is characterised by a decline in oestrogen. Oestrogen has an inhibitory effect on our appetite and women might find that they are bingeing or eating more. The lifestyle that’s enabled them to maintain a healthy weight up until then, no longer works. This is often coupled with assumptions around the menopause “that you’ll put on weight” or “it’s impossible to lose weight”. So, it’s easy to see how what may have been a mild eating difficulty or an attempt to get healthy can transform into a full-blown eating disorder, particularly for those with an eating disorder history.