Background: This presentation will discuss the phenomenon of eating disorders among women who are 25 and older. It will review the prevalence rates, clinical presentation, co-morbidities and contributing factors in the development of the eating disorder. Challenges regarding seeking help and treatment options will also be discussed.
I. Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Middle-Aged Women
II. Clinical Presentation
- Differences with regard to adolescent and young adult women
- Differences with regard to males with eating disorders
III. Co-Morbidities
IV. Contributing factors to the development of eating disorders in midlife
V. Impact on Significant Others
VI. Challenges with regard to accessing treatment
VII. Successful treatment components unique to middle-aged women
VIII. Recommendations
Although eating disorders typically occur among adolescents and young adult females, there is a large body of evidence indicating presence of eating disorders of all types among middle-aged women. This presentation will discuss the phenomenon of eating disorders among women who are 25 and older. Because of the myth that eating disorders only occur among female adolescents and very young adults, both the medical and mental health communities have overlooked the needs of these women. This presentation will review the prevalence rates, clinical presentation, comorbidities and contributing factors to the development of the eating disorder among midlife women. It will also discuss how eating disorders in midlife are different from eating disorders in youth and eating disorders in men. Challenges facing individuals who suffer from eating disorders in midlife will also be touched upon as well as access to care. Finally, types of treatment and ingredients of successful recovery will be reviewed.
Seda Ebrahimi, Ph.D. is the Founder and Director of the Cambridge Eating Disorder Center (CEDC). Dr. Ebrahimi has been in the field of eating disorders since 1986, beginning as a pre-doctoral intern at Brown University’s internship consortium. She continued with clinical and postdoctoral fellowships and an assistant clinical professor position at Brown University and was then named a Director of the Eating Disorders Research Program at Butler Hospital. Dr. Ebrahimi was the Director of the Eating Disorders Treatment Program at McLean Hospital from 1993-1998 and has been an Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard University since 1993.
