Eating disorders in midlife and later life

Many people think eating disorders only affect teenagers and young women. They do not. People can develop an eating disorder in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. Some have struggled for years, some get better and then relapse, and some have it for the first time in later life.^1,2

This page is for older adults, and for the family members and caregivers who love them. It explains what sets off an eating disorder later in life, why the health risks are higher, and how to tell an eating disorder from the loss of appetite that comes with depression, dementia or illness. There is help, and recovery is possible at any age.^1,11

Do eating disorders really happen in later life?

Yes. A 2023 review of the research found that about 2% to 8% of older women meet the full medical definition of an eating disorder. For older men the figure is under 1%. The rate falls as people age, but it does not drop to zero, even at very advanced ages.³ The National Eating Disorders Association reports that about 13% of women 50 and older, and about 7% of men 40 and older, have at least one current symptom.²

To picture this: among 100 women over 40, a few may have a full eating disorder and several more may have symptoms that cause real worry and distress.^2,3 Most go unnoticed. Doctors and families often do not ask, and older adults often feel too ashamed to say anything.^2,4

Eating disorders are serious illnesses, and they can be treated. Early help gives the best chance of a full recovery.¹

Three common paths

Doctors describe three ways an eating disorder can show up in midlife or later:⁴

1. A long-lasting illness that began when the person was young and never fully went away.
2. A relapse. The person got better years ago, and the illness came back during a hard time.
3. A new start with no history of an eating disorder.

A past eating disorder is the strongest risk factor for a new episode.⁴ In research on older people, new starts after age 40 were common.^6,7

The types are not always the ones people expect. In midlife, binge-eating disorder and "other specified" eating disorders (patterns that cause real harm but do not match one standard label) are common.⁴ Read more on the types of eating disorders.

What can set one off?

The signs of an eating disorder look much the same at any age. The reasons behind them often differ.² Later-life triggers include:

• Menopause and body changes. Hormones change, and so do sleep, mood and body shape. Researchers think hormone shifts may raise risk for some women, much as puberty does for teens. Studies so far are small and do not all agree.^3,5
• Loss and grief. The death of a spouse or friend, divorce, or a move can leave a person feeling out of control. Food can start to feel like the one thing they can control. See grief and losing a husband or wife.^2,4
• Role changes. Retirement, children leaving home, or a new caregiving job can shake a person's sense of purpose. See retirement and mental health.^2,4,11
• Illness and aging fears. A new diagnosis, a surgery, or worry about getting old can turn into a strong focus on food and shape.^2,11
• Diet culture. Years of pressure to look young and thin, or to follow strict food rules, can build up over a lifetime.⁴
• Other mental health problems. Depression, anxiety and loneliness often go along with eating disorders.^1,6,11 See depression in later life and loneliness in later life.

The causes and risk factors page covers more.

Why the health risks are higher

An older body has less reserve to draw on. Heart, bone, stomach and tooth problems linked to an eating disorder can get worse faster and heal more slowly with age.² Doctors who treat midlife women point to several risks:⁴

• Thin or weak bones (osteoporosis). This is the most common physical problem in women 50 and older with an eating disorder. It raises the chance of fractures.
• Heart rhythm problems and heart failure.
• Kidney and stomach problems.

Older people also often have other health conditions and take several medicines. An eating disorder can make those harder to manage. Reports describe hospital stays, loss of independence and death.^6,11 These come mostly from individual case reports, so they cannot show what usually happens. Still, they are a reminder to get help early.

Binge eating may be more common in midlife than people once thought, so it should not be overlooked.⁵ See health effects and medical risks.

Is it an eating disorder or appetite loss?

Eating less is common in later life, and most of the time it is not an eating disorder. The two can also overlap, so a careful look is important.

Doctors define unplanned weight loss in people over 65 as losing about 5% or more of body weight over 6 to 12 months without trying. Many things can cause it:⁸

In many cases, doctors never find a clear cause. Even so, they watch the person closely over time.⁸

An eating disorder has a different "inner story." Clues that point toward one include:^2,4,11

• Fear of gaining weight, or harsh self-talk about body shape and aging
• Strict food rules, or avoiding meals in social settings
• Strong guilt or shame around eating
• Episodes of eating a large amount while feeling out of control
• Unexplained health problems, such as fragile bones, in a person with no clear reason

A person with depression or dementia may say, "I'm just not hungry" or "I forgot." A person with an eating disorder is more likely to be afraid of food or of how their body looks. But a person can have both depression and an eating disorder.⁶

One clue to remember: a drop in weight in midlife is linked with more thinking and memory problems, so a doctor will also want to check on memory and mood.² Never assume the cause. See treatable conditions that look like dementia and eating, drinking and swallowing in dementia.

Why it is often missed, and why people hide it

Eating disorders usually begin in the teen or young adult years. The typical starting age is about 18 to 21, so many people, and many doctors, do not think of them later in life.¹⁰ Older adults may feel shame about having what many people see as a "teenager's problem." Years of living with an eating disorder can make it harder to change.² Care duties, cost and a lack of specialists can also get in the way.^2,4 Doctors may miss it because they do not think to ask, or they put symptoms down to age or other illness.^2,11

If you have been carrying this alone, you are not weak or foolish. Eating disorders are real medical illnesses, not choices or signs of vanity.¹

What helps?

Most research on eating disorders has been done with teens and younger adults. For people over 65, the evidence is thin. One review found only 35 papers covering 39 people, almost all case reports. Most of those people improved with a mix of care, such as hospital care, therapy and medicine. The reports were uneven, so the review could not say which treatment is best.⁷

Experts agree on a few basics.^2,3,7,11

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before you change any medicine. Your care team can also look at whether any of your medicines are affecting your appetite.⁸

How to support someone you love

Be kind and calm. Talk about how worried you are, not about their body or food. Offer to go to the doctor with them. Try to avoid comments about their weight or looks, even kind ones. Take care of yourself too, because caring for someone with an eating disorder is tiring. Read helping someone with an eating disorder, how to start a conversation and caregiver burnout.

If the person has dementia, changes in eating are common and can have many causes. See meals and nutrition, and tell the doctor about any new change.⁹

Learn more

• Eating disorders overview
• Signs of an eating disorder
• Types of eating disorders
• Causes and risk factors
• Health effects and medical risks
• Treatment for eating disorders
• Helping someone with an eating disorder

When to get help

Start with your primary care doctor. Say it plainly: "I have been worried about how I eat." Many people find this the hardest step. You can also bring a family member to the visit. The National Eating Disorders Association offers a free, private online screening tool that points to treatment options.²

For information and referrals, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders runs a free helpline at 1-866-662-1235. As of October 2026, it is staffed by licensed therapists on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. If lines are busy, a therapist calls back within 24 hours.¹² Our help page lists more services.

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.