The Desperate Housewives Syndrome

The press is running several articles on a reported increase in anorexia among women in their thirties and forties. Anorexia is traditionally associated with young teenage girls, but clinics and doctors are discovering more cases of anorexia among boys, men and older women. Deanne asks, "is this a real phenomenon, are more older women really falling victim to the "starving sickness". Or is this simply a reflection of the fact that more older women are admitting to their problems with food?"

Deanne says "I have treated women of all ages for eating disorders for many years. Some older women are simply experiencing a return of a previous episode of their eating disorder. This can be triggered by the loss of a relationship, a life crisis or an episode of depression. On the other hand we may be seeing the result of women growing older with a condition that
started in their teens".

There are pressures on both women and men to stay young and beautiful, for women this means being slim and for men, being toned and strong. Perhaps our culture is to blame, relationships are more transient, more women are single, it becomes more rare to stay married for life, people feel they have to always be one step ahead of the competition. Does this mean an increase in eating disorders among women who presumably "should" be relaxing into their roles, raising their children and growing older graacefully? We cannot say for sure, but it certainly adds to the stress , anxiety and the self doubt of the lives of countless women who feel that no matter what they do and no matter who they are, they are failures if they cannot be perfect.

For help with an eating problem go to www.eating-disorders.org.uk