Originally published December 3 2005
Older women battle anorexia, too, NBC reports
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A Florida affiliate of NBC reports on the widespread problem of anorexia, which afflicts many older women, despite common perceptions that it is a teen disease.
When the term anorexia is mentioned, many people conjure up images of thin teenagers or college students.
But about what moms, wives or middle-aged women?
The 38-year-old wife and mother from Geneva has battled anorexia for almost 20 years.
It started when her dance teacher told her to lose weight.
She recently looked at old pictures and said she saw a heavy girl.
"I went to the doctor, my medical doctor, he said, 'If you lose one more pound, we'll put you in the hospital with a feeding tube,'" she said.
Now, two years later, eating is a chore.
"That's why we have more and more women at middle age who are moving to eating disorders," said Rollins College Professor Marie Shafe.
Part of the blame, she said, falls on a culture that encourages and rewards weight loss.
For example, she points to the fact that Mary-Kate Olsen got a modeling contract after her treatment for anorexia.
"She is actually damaging organs in her body from her heart to her kidneys to her liver, and then she's given a multi-million dollars contract," Shafe said.
Experts say the thing that is difficult for non-anorexics to grasp is that when an anorexic looks in the mirror they do not see their real image.
"I still can't look back and see that I was that skinny," Mullen said.
Her brain couldn't function properly and her body still suffers.
They may have tricks to avoid food, such as claiming they already ate, cooking for you but not eating, or simply pushing their food around on the plate.
They may avoid social situations or restaurants.
Many also wear loose clothing, even layering in the hot Florida weather.
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