But as Jason Howland reports in the Mayo Clinic Minute, that's not always the case.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes," says Dr. Leslie Sim, a Mayo Clinic child psychologist.

Dr. Sim says 10% of anorexia cases and 30% of patients with binge-eating disorders are males.

"Men are also subject to a lot of the cultural messages in our society about leanness and muscularity, and being thin," says Dr. Sim.

She says roughly 25% of people who struggle with eating disorders are also racial minorities.

"Unfortunately, the stereotype, again, is quite harmful in that we think eating disorders only affect young, thin girls and women. And that, I think, deters a lot of people from getting help," says Dr. Sim.

No matter what your gender or race is, eating disorders can have life-threatening complications.

"If they are concerned at all that their eating is starting to get in the way of their life in any way, that what I'd like them to know is that eating disorders are very treatable conditions," says Dr. Sim. "And the earlier people seek help, oftentimes the more treatable they are."

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For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

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Eating disorders are complex medical issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic has created additional challenges for people who battle these disorders. For some, being home with constant access to food is difficult. For others, the lack of social support is a struggle.

Now isolation and stress are contributing to an increased risk of people developing eating disorders.

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Leslie Sim, a Mayo Clinic psychologist, addresses eating disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.  

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

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DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Is it common for someone in their 50s to develop an eating disorder?

ANSWER: Although eating disorders are most common in adolescents or young adults, they can affect people of all ages — even into older adulthood. Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that affect heath, emotions and functional ability in important areas of life. The three most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Others include rumination disorder and avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight or shape. People with anorexia may excessively limit calories or use other methods to lose weight, such as excessive exercise, or the use of laxatives or diet aids. These people may reach an abnormally low body weight. Or fear of weight gain may be supplemented by shame over calorie intake, which may be relieved by vomiting (purging) or using laxatives.

With bulimia, people typically eat a large amount of food at one time (binge). Then, driven by shame, they try to rid themselves of the extra calories in an unhealthy way, such as vomiting.

Binge-eating disorder is marked by impulsivity. People with binge-eating disorder regularly eat too much and feel a lack of control over their eating. But unlike those with anorexia or bulimia, they don’t try to compensate for this behavior. Binge-eating disorder is believed to be the most prevalent eating disorder in older adults.

Older adults experience many of the same body image concerns as their younger counterparts. One large study found that levels of body dissatisfaction remained constant in women of all ages, while another study noted body dissatisfaction and “feeling fat” being reported even by women at a healthy weight. Societal pressures to be thin are linked to eating disorders in older adults just as they are in adolescents and younger adults. These feelings may be compounded by factors such as excessive life stress, menopause concerns and fear over age-related appearance changes.

One misconception is that an eating disorder is simply a lifestyle choice. Research shows that these disorders result from a complex interaction of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological and social factors. In particular, the brain circuitry alterations seen in people who’ve undergone the semistarvation found in many eating disorders may complicate recovery and increase the likelihood of relapse.

An eating disorder often is managed with a team approach, including input from health care providers, including mental health professionals and dietitians. While the treatment depends on the type of disorder, it often involves refeeding, nutritional education and counseling. A medication also may be recommended, particularly for those who have binge-eating disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy commonly is used to treat eating disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help those with an eating disorder learn how to monitor and improve their eating habits, develop problem-solving skills, and explore healthy ways to cope with feelings and life situations. Medications can’t cure an eating disorder, but some — such as the stimulant lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) — may help control urges to binge and purge, or manage excessive preoccupation with diet.

Most of this treatment can be done on an outpatient basis. However, people with severe malnutrition due to anorexia — or with serious health issues due to binge-eating disorder — may require hospitalization or admission into a specialized eating disorder program.

If you need help with diet-based behaviors or your feelings about your body, ask for help. By seeking treatment, you can avoid a number of serious health complications and ultimately prolong your life. Similarly, if a loved one appears to be showing signs of one of these issues, encourage him or her to talk to a health professional. By expressing concern and a desire to listen, you may open the door for him or her to accept help. (adapted from Mayo Clinic Health Letter) — Dr. Bethanne Keen, Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona

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Related Articles

• Helping Others Heal: Hoping her story will lift others struggling with eating disorders published 10/31/18
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Breaking down types of eating disorders published 8/14/18

The post Mayo Clinic Q and A: Eating disorders can affect people of all ages appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:59) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes," says Dr. Leslie Sim, a Mayo Clinic child psychologist.

Dr. Sim says 10% of anorexia cases and 30% of patients with binge-eating disorders are males.

"Men are also subject to a lot of the cultural messages in our society about leanness and muscularity, and being thin," says Dr. Sim.

She says roughly 25% of people who struggle with eating disorders are also racial minorities.

"Unfortunately, the stereotype, again, is quite harmful in that we think eating disorders only affect young, thin girls and women. And that, I think, deters a lot of people from getting help," says Dr. Sim.

No matter what your gender or race is, eating disorders can have life-threatening complications.

"If they are concerned at all that their eating is starting to get in the way of their life in any way, that what I'd like them to know is that eating disorders are very treatable conditions," says Dr. Sim. "And the earlier people seek help, oftentimes the more treatable they are."

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Eating disorders affect men and minorities, too appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Integrative medicine: Alternative becomes mainstream
Complementary medicine has never been more popular. Nearly 30 percent of adults report using complementary and alternative medicine. Doctors are embracing these therapies, too, often combining them with mainstream medical therapies. The combination is called "integrative medicine." From herbal remedies and dietary supplements to ancient healing systems and mind-body techniques, learn more about complementary and alternative medicine, and see what might be right for you.

EXPERT ANSWERS
What is raw water?
While the U.S. has one of the safest public drinking water supplies in the world, concerns over lead and other contaminants have led some to seek alternatives to tap water. As a result, drinking unprocessed water, also referred to as "raw" or "live" water, has become a trend. But is it safe? Learn more from Katherine Zeratsky, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist.

Will taking care of my teeth help prevent heart disease?
Poor oral health has been debated as a possible cause of heart disease for many years. While there appears to be some connection between oral health and heart disease, more research is needed to understand it. Learn more from Dr. Thomas Salinas, a Mayo Clinic prosthodontist.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Eating disorders
Bullous pemphigoid
Peptic ulcer
Spinal injury: First aid

HEALTHY RECIPES
Butternut squash ravioli
Veggie pizza
Quinoa stuffed peppers
Whole-grain banana bread

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Are you getting enough calcium?
If dairy foods are off the menu, how can you be sure you're getting enough calcium? Try going green. Broccoli and dark green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and turnip and collard greens, are good sources of calcium. Also look for calcium-fortified foods, such as soy milk and fruit juices.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org.

Receive a free e-subscription to Housecall and other health newsletters.

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Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

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Listen to the program on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 9:05 a.m. CDT, and follow #MayoClinicRadio.

Access archived shows.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

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Listen to the program on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 9:05 a.m. CDT.

Miss the show?  Here's the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio, and tweet your questions.

Mayo Clinic Radio is on iHeartRadio.

Mayo Clinic Radio produces a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic.

Access archived shows.

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Obese teenagers who lose weight are at risk of developing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In a recent Pediatrics article, Mayo Clinic researchers imply eating disorders among these patients are also not being adequately detected because the weight loss is seen as positive by providers and family members.

Eating disorders expert in the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center and lead author of the study Leslie Sim, Ph.D., L.P., says, “Given research that suggests early intervention promotes best chance of recovery, it is imperative that these children and adolescents’ eating disorder symptoms are identified and intervention is offered before the disease progresses."

In the article, Mayo Clinic researchers argue that formerly overweight adolescents tend to have more medical complications and take longer to be identified than kids who are in a normal weight range before developing their eating disorders.

Click here for news release

Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Sim are available in the downloads

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The majority of Americans embrace the holiday season as a festive time to eat, drink and celebrate with friends, family and co-workers. For those with eating disorders such as binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, however, the holiday season can be a nightmare.

People with eating disorders usually begin to worry about food consumption at holiday gatherings weeks — sometimes even months — before the event, says Leslie Sim, Ph.D., clinical director of the Mayo Clinic Eating Disorders Program.

“Unfortunately for our patients with eating disorders, the holiday season is really a nightmare. It’s something that they dread and talk about and anticipate for months ahead of the holidays,” Dr. Sim says. “It’s really a stressful time because there are large amounts of food around. That’s how people celebrate.”

About 10 million females and 1 million males suffer from an eating disorder and millions more are struggling with a binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.

Dr. Sim suggests a few tips to navigate through holiday gatherings:

• Always have a plan. People with eating disorders should eat like they would on a normal day and not skip any meals. Make sure to eat breakfast, lunch, and a light snack in addition to the meal. People who starve themselves are more likely to skip out on the meal entirely or engage in binge eating.
• If family or friends know someone is struggling with an eating disorder, it’s not a good idea to comment on their weight during a holiday gathering. Even a compliment can be taken the wrong way.
• If you’re hosting a holiday gathering with plenty of food, don’t take offense if someone doesn’t eat.
• People with eating disorders should have a coping strategy if they begin to feel stressed during a gathering. Dr. Sim suggests tactics such as deep breathing, meditation and talking to a close friend of family member.

Dr. Sim is available for broadcast, print and radio interviews on coping with eating disorders during the holiday season now through January 2012. To schedule an interview, contact Nick Hanson at 507-266-4945 or hanson.nicholas@mayo.edu.

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