Anorexia and bulimia hitting women in their 30s to 60s

In Saturday’s Guardian it was reported that psychiatrists are seeing more sufferers from anorexia and bulimia in their 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s. Here's the link to the article.

These are women who are presenting with their first episode of eating disorders that are usually associated with girls in their teenage years. The Guardian article cites reasons such as relationship breakdowns, the menopause, giving birth, children leaving home and the pressure to remain youthful. Looking at that list there appears to be nothing new, nothing that women haven’t weathered over the centuries. So why this increase in late onset eating disorders now?

Both anorexia and bulimia are isolating conditions through which the sufferer slowly communicates his, but usually her, deep- seated unhappiness to their families, friends and the world by how they behave and look. That teenage girls might struggle with how to manage their life changes and feel unable to voice their situation is not so surprising. However, as women get older one might expect they are more secure in being able to communicate an inability to cope.

It appears that despite the fact there are more ways to communicate than ever before - phones, texting, emailing, twittering, facebook, blogging! - some older women are feeling isolated and are not able to express their feelings. For all of these new conduits of communication, some things are not being said. Something is lost and the new technologies cannot replace more traditional ways of being together.

Perhaps what it missing is a time and space to consider emotions with other human beings, an opportunity to be seen and witnessed by others. 

This is something a talking therapy such as counseling or psychotherapy can also offer. As older women face life changes that have always existed along with the newer pressures of our time, it might be worthwhile to take stock and discuss how they are managing their transitions.

Jane Curzon

Psychotherapist and counsellor

Regents Practice in London W1

www.regentspractice.co.uk