Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Rebecca Lester, Professor of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis

Middle age is a time when women are vulnerable to eating disorders

Changes in identity in midlife can increase the risk of developing an eating disorder. muratseyit/E+ via Getty Images

“No one expects a grown woman in her 40s to have an eating disorder. That’s for teenagers, right? Well, guess what – it happened to me.”

Alexa, a 44-year-old real estate agent, was telling me about her struggle with non-purging bulimia, which has come to control her life. We spoke in 2024 at a coffee shop as part of my ongoing research on eating disorders.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.