Older Women

Posted by Lori Henry Nov 13, 2006

Austrian researchers have completed a study on 475 women, aged 60-70 years old, to find out how satisfied they were with their bodies. More than 60% reported to be dissatisfied and 4% almost met the criteria to be diagnosed with a full blown eating disorder.

The majority of these women would have been diagnosed with an EDNOS (Eating Disorder not Otherwise Specified), which means they don’t meet “all” of the criteria for anorexia, bulimia or compulsive overeating, but may purge, use laxatives and binge eat.

Almost 90% of the women studied said that they felt fat to some degree. Dr. Barbara Mangweth-Matzek, the lead author of the study, says that there has been little research done on older women and body image.

Most Doctors were surprised at the results of the study, which was published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, because of the lack of research. The study supports the notion that the desire to attain a slim figure doesn’t go away with age.

As Dr. Mangweth-Matzek stated, “…ideals, wishes, preferences stay the same.”