Eating disorder treatment among women forty and older: Increases in prevalence over time and comparisons to young adult patients

Abstract Objectives There is limited information on the prevalence of middle-aged women seeking specialized treatment for an eating disorder and whether middle-aged patients are significantly different from young-adult patients. This two-part study sought to identify changes in the past two decades in the prevalence of middle-aged (MA; 40 + years) and young-adult (YA; 18–39 years) women seeking treatment for an eating disorder (ED) and to identify differences and similarities between both groups. Methods For Study 1, all unique female inpatient admissions from 1989 to 2006 were reviewed ( n = 1,040). For Study 2, women admitted to any treatment level from January–May 2007 were compared, based on age at intake admission, on psychological questionnaires and factors relevant to an eating disorder. Results In Study 1, the overall percent of MA women who presented for inpatient ED treatment increased significantly from an average of 4.7% (1989–2001) to an average of 11.6% (2002–2006). In Study 2, at intake, MA women were more likely than YA to be married, be older at ED onset and report a longer duration of illness. Self-esteem, depression, anxiety, ED psychopathology, and BMI were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions Findings indicate an increase in the prevalence of inpatient admissions among middle-aged women, but few differences between middle-aged and younger-aged women at treatment admission. However, the longer duration of illness among MA warrants in-depth investigation of factors related to resistance to seeking treatment and to existing treatments failing patients, and consideration of tailoring treatment to course of illness.