According to nutritionist Rakshita Mehra at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Noida, India, eating disorders are a group of problems related to abnormal eating behavior and can seriously affect physical and mental health.
These disorders include binge eating disorders, anorexia and mental loss of appetite.
"Eating disorders are not only found in adolescence, but the incidence of this disorder in adult women, especially in their 30s, 40s and 50s, is not low," says nutritionist Rakshita Mehra.
Three stages of easy eating disorder
It can be considered that three important stages in a woman's life that lead to a high risk of physical problems and eating disorders are: puberty, pregnancy and premenopause/menopause.
A study by The butterfly Foundation (Australia) shows that the highest rate of body image diseases is in teenage girls aged 15-17 (39.9%), women aged 35-44 (32.6%) and women aged 55-64 (35.7%).
Although these stages have differences in age, they all have in common the body changes and receive strong social pressures.
Revival
Research shows that 30% of girls aged 6 to 18 report eating disorders, compared to 17% of boys.
This rate increases as girls age. Hormonal and physical changes during this period can easily make girls feel dissatisfied with their bodies.
Pregnancy
About 7.5% of pregnant women have an eating disorder. After giving birth, nearly 70% of women are not satisfied with their weight and figure. The pressure to recover after pregnancy can make many women feel insecure about their bodies.
Premenopause and menopause
More than 73% of women aged 42 to 52 are not satisfied with their weight. Although not all women experience menopause, the rate of eating disorders in women over 40 is about 3.5%. Hormonal changes and a loss of youthfulness can cause anxiety about appearance and increase the risk of eating disorders.
Causes and impacts
Factors such as hormonal fluctuations (estrogen and progesterone), body changes and dissatisfaction with appearance can increase the risk of eating disorders.
Each stage has great psychological pressures, such as when entering puberty, changes in the body after giving birth and the feeling of losing youthfulness (menopause). These changes can make women worry about their figure and easily lead to unhealthy eating behavior.
Need to raise awareness
Although attention for eating disorders is often focused on adolescents, adult women, especially during pregnancy, premenopause and menopause, also need support.
Many older women do not receive proper care due to lack of awareness of eating disorders at this age.
Raising awareness among health experts and the community about this issue is very important to help women seek help without discrimination.
