Once thought of as a disease primarily affecting teenagers and young women, eating disorders are increasingly being seen in women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond.
As women are feeling increased pressure to maintain a youthful façade, and seeing women like Madonna and Sharon Stone turn or pass 50 without a wrinkle, they feel the same pressures as women half their age.

Add to this the stress of divorce, menopause, middle-aged weight gain and empty nest syndrome; eating disorders can become a way for women to feel like they are in control.

“America the Beautiful” is a new documentary that examines America’s obsession with beauty and what the markers are for being ‘beautiful.’ The movie follows a girl, Garren Taylor, who was cast into the modeling world at 12 and was told by 15 that she was ‘fat.’

Clearly, Taylor is a long way from fat.

Obviously, Taylor’s first reaction was emotional – she was angry and she said she slipped into a slight eating disorder. Her next reaction was to seek support and speak out.

Our children are getting younger and younger...

I've been listening to the news, reading books about how each generation develops faster than the previous generation (whether this is real or perceived).

We've all heard the scary stuff---our kids are hearing & learning about sex earlier than we ever did, they are exposed to more violence and drugs as well.

Our children are getting younger and younger... I've been listening to the news, reading books about how each generation develops faster than the previous generation (whether this is real or perceived). We've all heard the scary stuff---our kids are hearing & learning about sex earlier than we ever did, they are exposed to more violence and drugs as well.

When we talk about "eating disorders", we are typically talking about specific illnesses that are clinically-diagnosable.

When we talk about "disordered eating", we are referring to a large continuum of behaviors that could indicate an eating disorder that is "sub-clinical" (does not meet all the criteria for a clinical diagnosis) or a pattern of unhealthy eating (which is very vague!).

So, if we know the "disordered" way of eating... then what exactly is the "normal" way to eat?!

This is the best definition I have ever found:

February 24-March 1, 2008 marks the National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDAW). Eating Disorders are illnesses that are still largely untouched as far as being under-reported, under-researched and under-funded for treatment facilities. Eating disorders are life-threatening, and it is estimated that as many as 10 million females have an eating disorder, which include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS ("eating disorder not otherwise specified").