Scientists have warned about the risks of RPP in middle-aged women

The risk of developing eating disorders (EDS) in women aged 45 to 65 years has increased significantly. This was reported on May 11 by Medical Xpress magazine.

"Eating disorders have always been present in middle-aged women. They were simply misdiagnosed or never examined," said researcher Maria Bazo Perez.

According to the study, while RPP is often associated with the search for identity in young women and manifests itself in the form of anorexia or bulimia, compulsive overeating and night eating syndrome prevail in adulthood. These conditions often lead to weight gain, while adolescent disorders usually cause extreme weight loss.

Biological factors, such as childbirth and fat redistribution during menopause, distance a woman's figure from socially accepted ideals of slimness. Bazo Perez emphasized that the severity of menopause directly predicts destructive eating behavior: women for whom menopause symptoms become debilitating are more likely to develop RPP.

The psychological burden at this stage of life is increased by divorce, the death of parents, or the "empty nest" syndrome. At the same time, women aged 45-65 years are less likely to seek help, as they believe that they must fully control their lives and seek to hide the problem. According to the author of the study, many women find it difficult to prioritize themselves and their health, which becomes a barrier to seeking help.

Bazo Perez also called on the medical community to change the approach to patient screening, making it mandatory and age-sensitive. She insists that primary care physicians should ask patients more often about their eating habits and the triggers that could trigger the disorder.

On February 25, Medical Xpress spoke about the impact of social media on recovery from CPR. It was clarified that on these platforms, users can not only receive support, but also re-encounter content that they are trying to avoid. Experts stressed that such publications often appear next to supporting materials, which makes it difficult to completely abandon such topics.