17/10/25
As we mark World Menopause Day, it’s time to shine a light on a topic often overlooked in conversations about women’s health: the link between menopause and eating disorders.
While we often associate eating disorders with adolescence or early adulthood, a growing body of research shows that midlife and menopause can be a vulnerable time for the emergence (or re-emergence) of disordered eating.
This intersection of hormonal change, body image pressures, and life transitions deserves more attention, compassion, and clinical understanding.
Eating disorders aren’t just a ‘young person’s issue’
Recent studies challenge the stereotype that eating disorders are confined to youth. In fact, evidence suggests that a significant number of women experience disordered eating during menopause, often for the first time.
- A systematic review (2023) found that binge eating behaviours increase during perimenopause, while restrictive eating patterns are more common post- menopause.
- One study of over 700 middle-aged women found 4.6% met criteria for an eating disorder, and another 4.8% had subthreshold symptoms.
- Broader population data suggests 2–7.7% of women over 40 meet full diagnostic criteria, and up to 13% of women over 50 report at least one disordered eating symptom.
- In a survey by Equip Health, 35% of women aged 36–65 said they began disordered eating behaviours (such as over-exercise or meal skipping) during midlife, attributing this to hormonal and body changes.
These findings highlight an uncomfortable truth: eating disorders do not ‘end’ with youth. They can shift, evolve, or reappear as women enter new life stages.
We are seeing more women coming in during the perimenopause and menopause. This stage of life can bring up old, unresolved struggles or trigger new ones. – Dr Joanna Silver
Why might menopause trigger disordered eating?
The menopausal transition brings a combination of biological, psychological, and social stressors that can make women more susceptible to disordered eating:
1. Hormonal changes
Fluctuations and eventual declines in oestrogen and progesterone affect appetite regulation, mood, and the brain’s reward systems, all factors known to influence eating behaviours.
2. Body composition changes
Weight gain, shifts in fat distribution, and a loss of lean mass are natural parts of menopause, but they can lead to body dissatisfaction and attempts to “control” weight through restrictive or compensatory eating.
3. Psychological and life-stage stress
Midlife often coincides with changing roles (e.g. caring for aging parents, children leaving home, or career transitions) which can provoke anxiety, loss of identity, or a desire for control.
4. Societal pressures
Ageism and diet culture collide at this stage. The pressure to conform to societally imposed anti-ageist beliefs can intensify, especially in environments that still equate thinness with health or attractiveness.
5. A history of disordered eating
Many women report a relapse of earlier eating difficulties during menopause, triggered by body changes or emotional stressors they hadn’t anticipated.
Eating disorders in midlife can bring a sense of shame in having an illness that is wrongly assumed to impact younger women only. It is important to understand that this time of life can be a vulnerable time for women. Recovery is possible at any age and it is important that these women get the help and understanding that they need. – Dr Joanna Silver
Warning signs to watch for
Disordered eating during menopause can look different for everyone. Some common red flags include:
- Frequent dieting or rigid ‘rules’ about food
- Obsessive focus on ‘clean eating or weight control
- Skipping meals or fasting for extended periods
- Episodes of binge eating followed by guilt or restriction
- Exercising excessively or compulsively
- Shame or secrecy around food
- Mood swings, anxiety, or isolation around mealtimes
Because these symptoms are often dismissed as ‘normal midlife changes’ they can go unnoticed or untreated. If eating behaviours begin to feel obsessive, distressing, or controlling, it’s important to reach out for help.
Why this matters
Eating disorders in midlife carry heightened physical and emotional risks:
- Nutritional deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances
- Worsened menopausal symptoms (e.g. fatigue, poor sleep, mood swings)
- Increased risk of bone density loss and heart complications
- Deepened anxiety, guilt, and shame
- Delayed diagnosis due to misconceptions about age and eating disorders
Early recognition and intervention can make an enormous difference in health outcomes and quality of life.
Steps towards healing your relationship with food during menopause
If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating during menopause, know that help and recovery are possible – at any age.
Here are some ways to start:
1. Talk about it
Opening up to a trusted friend, clinician, or therapist can help break the silence and reduce shame. You are not alone – and you are not ‘too old’ to seek support.
2. Seek a specialist assessment
If you’re unsure, ask your GP or menopause specialist for a referral to an eating disorder service or therapist. Early screening can prevent escalation.
3. Integrate care
Treatment works best when it addresses both hormonal and psychological factors – combining therapy, nutritional support, and medical monitoring.
4. Rebuild body trust
Work on developing a kinder, more accepting relationship with your body. Approaches like body neutrality and practicing self-compassion can be powerful tools.
5. Focus on nourishment, not control
Shift away from rigid dieting and toward balance, flexibility, and pleasure in eating. Food is not the enemy, it’s part of healing.
6. Remember: it’s never too late
Recovery is not limited by age. With the right support, women can find freedom from disordered eating and rediscover connection with themselves.
Let’s keep the conversation going.
It’s essential that we expand the conversation over menopause to include its impact on mental health and eating behaviours.
By speaking openly and compassionately, we can help those going through this period of life feel seen and ensure that no one faces this stage of life feeling alone, ashamed, or misunderstood.
If you’re struggling with your relationship with food or your body, help is available. Get in touch today.
If you find that you are preoccupied with thoughts of weight, shape or control it is helpful to reach out for help. You do not need to wait until things get more severe- the sooner you reach out the better. – Dr Joanna Silver
We’re here to help
If you or someone you care about is struggling, get in touch with Orri’s team. We’re here to listen, advise, and offer a safe space for recovery.
