Eating disorder behaviours 'are common in women over 50'

It is common for women over the age of 50 to experience eating disorder behaviours, research has revealed.

The study, which has been published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, found that 62 per cent of women over the age of 50 feel that their weight or shape has a negative impact on their lives.

"Since most research focuses on younger women, our goal was to capture the concerns of women in this age range to inform future research and service planning," said lead researcher Dr Cynthia Bulik, director of the University of North Carolina Eating Disorders Program.

The study found that 3.5 per cent of women aged 50 and over binge eat, nearly eight per cent purge and more than 70 per cent are trying to lose weight.

Last year, a study led by Dr Guido Frank of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, revealed that the eating disorder bulimia nervosa can have a negative effect on brain function.

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