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Helping Relationships with Food and Body in Adulthood

Eating Disorders in Adults
Eating Disorders are the 2nd most deadly mental health illness, with only opioid use disorder causing more deaths per year.

In adulthood for both men and women, eating disorder symptoms may be under-reported or misdiagnosed. Here are a few tools and resources to aid in screening if your client may have or be at risk of developing an eating disorder:
  • EDE-Q: Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
  • BEDS-7: Binge Eating Disorder Questionnaire
  • EAT-26: Eating Attitudes Test
  • MENQOL: Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire
Distinguishing signs of normal aging, symptoms of menopause or energy deficiency from possible disordered eating?

Normal Aging/Menopause

  • Hot flashes/night sweats
  • Memory lapses “brain fog”
  • Weight gain/fat redistribution
  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain
  • Hair loss
  • Sleep disorders
  • Irritability, depression
  • Digestive problems/IBS
  • Decreased bone density

Energy Deficiency

  • Irregular or absent periods
  • Hair loss
  • GI/digestive issues
  • Fatigue
  • Constant cravings OR lack of appetite
  • Low bone density/Stress fractures
  • Frequent illness/compromised immune system
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Irritability/Mood dysregulation

Offering weight-inclusive interventions rather than weight-normative/weight management interventions can assist clients in the process of aging while decreasing their risk of developing disordered eating patterns.

Weight inclusive interventions include patient-centered Medical Nutrition Therapy to reduce negative impacts of weight stigma, support health goals without intentional weight suppression, introduce acceptance in body changes throughout aging, reduce risk of weight cycling and focus on developing a neutral relationship with food, body and activity.

Support for Adults with Disordered Eating

It can be difficult to detect signs/symptoms of disordered eating in patients.

As a Registered Dietitian with a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist credential, training focuses on how to screen for disordered eating patterns, provide medical nutrition therapy or nutrition counseling for eating disorders as well as body image disturbance or disordered eating. Many patients may present in appointments looking for guidance, meal planning assistance and direction for these exact issues.

Our team prioritizes collaborating with medical providers to support these areas with both adults and children.

Center for Hope and Family Solution’s Eating Disorder Team are also able to provide case consultation services for clinicians working with this client population.  Give us a call today 317-598-8680 to schedule an appointment with one of our Eating Disorders Team Members.

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