Eating disorders of the perimenopause

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Psychiatry
• Women's Mental Health
• Eating Disorder Research

Background:

• Women's mental health issues are common, especially during reproductive lifespan stages with hormonal fluctuations.
• Eating disorders are traditionally viewed as adolescent/young adult illnesses, but a shift is emerging.
• Midlife women, particularly during perimenopause, show increasing rates of eating disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the rising incidence of eating disorders in midlife women.
• To explore the correlation between perimenopause and eating disorder onset/exacerbation.
• To emphasize the need for research and effective treatments for this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on women's mental health and eating disorders.
• Analysis of trends in inpatient admissions and outpatient clinic attendances for eating disorders in older women.
• Consideration of biopsychosocial factors contributing to midlife eating disorders.

Main Results:

• Eating disorders show a notable peak in midlife, coinciding with perimenopausal hormonal changes.
• Increased healthcare utilization (inpatient/outpatient) observed among older women with eating disorders.
• Ovarian hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause are implicated in increased susceptibility.

Conclusions:

• Midlife women, especially those in perimenopause, represent a growing cohort with eating disorders.
• Eating disorders in older women are associated with severe morbidity and mortality.
• Further research and tailored treatments are essential for understanding and managing midlife eating disorders.