Eating Disorders in Older Age: A Scoping Review

Although eating disorders (ED) are often associated with adolescence and young adulthood, they extend across the lifespan. This scoping review maps the literature on ED in midlife and older adulthood (≥40 years), focusing on prevalence, clinical characteristics, age of onset, and consequences within a biopsychosocial framework.

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic literature search was performed up to August 2025. Peer-reviewed research and review articles published in English or Turkish were included; studies focusing exclusively on children or adolescents were excluded.

Twenty-nine publications were included. ED in midlife and older adulthood were prevalent and heterogeneous, encompassing both newly emerging and longstanding presentations. Prevalence estimates were comparable to those in younger populations, and cases were frequently associated with substantial medical and psychiatric comorbidity. Underrecognition, diagnostic challenges, and limited age-specific treatment approaches were consistently reported.

ED in later life represent a significant yet underrecognized clinical concern with elevated morbidity and mortality risk, underscoring the need for improved diagnostic awareness and age-sensitive research.

Clinicians should consider ED in midlife and older adults and adopt multidisciplinary, biopsychosocial approaches that account for age-related medical complexity and psychosocial context.