Archive for September, 2008

Eating Disorders in Adult Women – A Q&A with Dr. Trisha Gura


1.)  In your book, Lying in Weight: The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women, you talk about the fact that the subject of eating disorders among adult women does not get the attention it deserves. Why do you think this is?

The media perpetuates a myth: that eating disorders happen only to teenagers who want to look like fashion models. Society at large accepts that myth and doesn’t realize the older women suffer too, in fact doubly. Older women feel like two-time losers 1. Because they have an eating disorder and 2. Because they think they should know better due to age.

Finally, older women are less reluctant to seek help for the reasons above. Until recently, fewer were coming forward for treatment because they either were so embarrassed and/or did not realize they could have an eating disorder in the 40s, 50s even 70s.(The oldest women with anorexia in Lying in Weight was 92). The less that came forward, the less attention the issue received.

2)  What do you want the audience to take away from your talk at Sheppard Pratt on Oct. 5?

Anyone male or female of an ethnicity or race can get an eating disorder. But at the same given the right treatment and support, anyone can heal.

3)  What makes your talk at Sheppard Pratt relevant to everyone, not just those with disordered eating or those prone to developing eating disorders?

In only one instance have I met a woman who did not have some issue with her body size or image. Cindy Bulik’s group at the University of North Carolina found 75 percent of all American women endorse some unhealthy thoughts, feelings or behaviors related to food or their bodies. Men, particularly athletes and those involved in professions that value appearance, are joining the ranks of their female counterparts. Thus, a discussion of body image and food and exercise behaviors is relevant to a much larger group than those who have eating disorders.

4)  In your book, you say that midlife events can trigger disordered eating. What types of events are you referring to and what role do they play in developing eating disorders?

In midlife there are no less than 15 major transitions that can affect a person’s life i.e. divorce, an empty nest, menopause. Those life changes pile up in midlife, much like the physical, emotional and hormonal changes of adolescence cumulate in teenagers to cause overall tumult. The sense of everything coming apart is what prompts many latent eating disorders to ripen.

5) What advice would you give to someone who thinks they may be at risk for developing an eating disorder as a result of midlife events?

Know that you are not alone. Early statistics show that the number of women in their 40s and 50s seeking treatment have tripled and quadrupled, respectively, in the last decade.

Reach out for help. Your body is not that of a teenager and will not bounce back from unhealthy behaviors as quickly. Also, if you have children and/or loved ones, they will suffer from your lack of attention to the problem and benefit beyond words from your courage in undertaking a journey toward healing.

Published by CED Editor
September 24th, 2008 in Celebrity Topical News
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Eating Disorders: All Grown Up


Eating disorders have long been recognized as a disease that only affects white, adolescent girls.  And while those are often the faces you will see in documentaries and after school specials on the topic, it’s important to know that anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other eating disorders can, and often do, transcend this stereotype.  Not only do eating disorders cross racial, ethnic and gender boundaries, they can also occur outside of the teenage years, developing or recurring during adulthood, mid-life and older adulthood. This may not be surprising considering the “fifty is the new thirty” cultural attitude which seems to keep extending the unrealistic physical demands placed on females by the media.

Adult women struggling with eating disorders can face a unique set of stressors and risks associated with the disease.  Whether they are still battling an untreated eating disorder from adolescence, have had a recurrence of one that was previously under control or have developed one for the first time, the repercussions for themselves and their families can be overwhelming. Marriage, divorce, career, finances, or the death of a loved one can be contributing stressors in an adult woman’s life.  The stress of pregnancy and parenting can be especially triggering, and yet, it is more important than ever at this time in a woman’s life that she is taking care of her body and modeling healthy behavior.  Criticizing herself in the mirror or refusing to eat certain foods, or entire meals, will likely be observed and emulated in the attitudes and behavior of her own children.  Wanting to break this cycle of negative self image and disordered eating can be a significant factor in motivating adult women to seek treatment.

Health complications associated with eating disorders are also likely to catch up with a woman in later adulthood and could motivate her to pursue treatment.  Infertility, osteoporosis and severe tooth decay caused by years of acting on eating disorder symptoms are no longer just warnings from doctors but become painful realities as women age.

In the United States it is estimated that about 10 million women, throughout all ages, struggle with an eating disorder.  Eating disorders can negatively impact all areas of adult life including intimacy, decision-making, social relationships and parenting competence.  The good news is that more and more adult women are reaching out for help and getting the treatment they need to recover.

Want to find out more about this topic? Come hear Trisha Gura the acclaimed author of Lying in Weight: The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women, speak during a special symposium at Sheppard Pratt on Sunday, October 5th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.  Admission is free but pre-registration is required.  Please call Iris Fisher at (410) 938-3157 to register.

Want to interact with Trisha Gura online? Chat with her live at the Center for Eating Disorders online discussion forum on Sept. 30th at 8 p.m. Check back soon for more details

Written by Kate Clemmer, Outreach Coordinator at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt

Published by CED Editor
September 17th, 2008 in Editor's Picks
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Hungry for Gold: The Hidden Epidemic of Disordered Eating Among Athletes

Olympic medals

Eating disorders affect 5 to 10 million men and women, so it is no wonder that athletes are not immune to developing one.


The 2008 Olympic Games remind so many of us what we enjoy about sports – the excitement, the competition, the love of the game. For many, underneath, there are secret obsessions, including  disordered eating or eating disorders that some  athletes use to “stay in the game,” when in reality, they are harming themselves and ultimately their sports performance through their eating behaviors.

Those particularly at risk are athletes who compete in judged sports where they are required to wear revealing uniforms or costumes. These generally include sports like gymnastics, diving, figure skating, etc. but an eating disorder can affect an athlete competing in any sport. This silent wave of disordered eating seems to come from the dual pressures to not only perform well, but also the pressure  look good while competing, especially when the event is televised.

Certain sports carry individual expectations (and sometimes stereotypes), of weight, body size and shape that can be hard to achieve. For example,  basketball players are often  tall and  lean, distance runners are expected to be thin, jockeys are thought to be short, and so on.  At times athletes can go to extreme lengths  to reach these expectations, and not without consequences.

The practices of disordered eating and exercise abuse in athletes can lead to health problems, such as decreased immunity, loss of bone density, stress fractures, menstrual irregularities, overuse injuries, and the list goes on…

Because athletes often appear to have things so “together” on the outside, it can be  difficult for outsiders to pick up on disordered eating and the underlying health issues. For this reason, and because of their power and influence, coaches may be the most important factor in promoting or preventing poor eating and training habits in athletes. Thus, it is especially important for coaches to be able to  identify the signs of disordered eating early so that athletes who need treatment  can get it when the likelihood of success is at its highest.

In a previous entry, Dr. Ron Thompson sheds some light on key signs to look for when trying to identify an athlete with an eating disorder or disordered eating. In that same entry, Dr. Thompson offers advice to athletes and coaches on how to minimize the risk of creating or developing unhealthy food relationships.

If you think you or someone you care about may be showing signs or symptoms of an eating disorder, take this quiz. Or, if you prefer, you can call the Center for Eating Disorders at 410-938-5252 to speak with someone in confidence about any questions or concerns you may have.

Published by CED Editor
September 12th, 2008 in Body Image, Editor's Picks
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