theagingofanorexia

Over 40 and Anorexic

Eating disorder experts believe that more than 10 percent of anorexics are over age 40.

Most cases of anorexia develop between the ages of 13 and 17 and rarely develop after age 20 states Michael Strober, PhD, director of the Eating Disorders Program at the Resnick UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital. Dr. Strober was recently interviewed and the event was transcribed on WebMD. Here are some of the answers he provided to questions from the audience.

Anorexia can be chronic and long term so that many people with anorexia have symptoms of the illness well into adulthood, even for decades. He believes that if the illness seems to take place after the age of 20 it probably showed milder symptoms during the teen years.

According to Strober the illness may have its ups and downs over the years. However, people who recover completely as teens, have few symptoms as adults and are at low risk for anorexia recurring. However, if they have mild symptoms that persist over time and then exposed to a major stressful life event, there is some risk of a relapse.

Adults who were anorexic as teens are also at higher risk for bulimia in adulthood. Close to 30% of people with anorexia develop binge eating.

Recovery is less likely for adults who have been ill for some time. Aggressive treatment is usually not used because it tends to lead to greater risks. The recommended approach is to stabilize the illness.

Body image concerns should not be equated with anorexia nervosa. Adult concerns with health, fitness and appearance represent very different phenomena than anorexia nervosa which is a serious psychiatric illness, involving an extreme irrational fear of normal body weight and dieting to the point of malnutrition.

AT UCLA we believe that treatment needs to be prolonged and continue on a daily basis until the person reaches a reasonable target weight range. Patients remain in intensive treatment until they demonstrate they can independently maintain their weight.

Information about the UCLA program is available by accessing the web at www.npi.ucla.edu

To your success for healthy living.

Ruthan Brodsky

www.balanceyourhealth.com

www.upsideofaging.com

Treatment for Anorexia: Finding a Doctor

The challenge in treating anorexia is having the person acknowledge that their eating conduct is a problem in itself. My sister denied she had an eating problem… she blamed it on a digestive problem. Her husband and step son fell right in line. By the time she did finally talk to a therapist it was much too late for her. And according to my brother-in-law, she wasn’t listening anyway.

Once that recognition takes place, it’s time to search for a physician.

Actress Dramatizes How Women Are Eaten Alive

As part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Month last February, Eva Van Dok performed her one-woman play, "Eaten Alive" at several college campuses. The play focuses on eating disorders and weight obsession.

A secret sufferer of anorexia and bulimia since her father died when she was 12, the Broadway veteran tours the country presenting the drama to as many young people as she can. In the opening scene, she is an overstressed mom, obsessed with exercising off the weight She plays five different women, from a troubled high school girl to a desperate older woman who can’t afford the latest died fad proposed by her doctor. In the final act she reflects that life with an eating disorder is always about the next five pounds. "I know there is more to life. But I can’t think about anything else."