Factors associated with disordered eating behaviors and attitudes in older women

The present study explored the potential factors associated with disordered eating behaviors and attitudes in older women.

Women aged 60-75 years were recruited in the community (n = 203) and completed questionnaires. The Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was used to evaluate disordered eating behaviors and attitudes. The independent variables were BMI, age, importance of appearance, importance of body competence, cognitive reappraisal, and fear of age-related appearance changes. Spearman correlation analyses and zero-inflated negative binomial regression models were used to analyze the data.

BMI was positively associated with EDE-Q restraint, EDE-Q eating concern, and EDE-Q frequency of objective binge-eating episodes. Importance of appearance was positively related to EDE-Q restraint, and fear of age-related appearance changes to EDE-Q eating concern and objective binge-eating episodes. Cognitive reappraisal was negatively associated with EDE-Q eating concern and excessive exercise in bivariate associations, but the relationships disappeared in the multivariate analyses.

BMI, importance of appearance, and fear of age-related appearance changes turned out to be positively associated with eating disordered behaviors and attitudes, similarly to what can be observed in middle-aged samples. However, the role of cognitive reappraisal was unclear and should be investigated further.

Level V: cross-sectional descriptive study.