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Eating disorder symptoms and weight and shape concerns in a large web‐based convenience sample of women ages 50 and above: Results of the gender and body image (GABI) study
Author(s) -
Gagne Danielle A.,
Von Holle Ann,
Brownley Kimberly A.,
Runfola Cristin D.,
Hofmeier Sara,
Branch Kateland E.,
Bulik Cynthia M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.22030
Subject(s) - dieting , disordered eating , body mass index , psychology , eating disorders , psychological intervention , population , clinical psychology , young adult , gerontology , developmental psychology , weight loss , demography , psychiatry , obesity , medicine , pathology , sociology
Objective: Limited research exists on eating disorder symptoms and attitudes and weight and shape concerns in women in midlife to older adulthood. We conducted an online survey to characterize these behaviors and concerns in women ages 50 and above. Method: Participants ( n = 1,849) were recruited via the Internet and convenience sampling. Results: Eating disorder symptoms, dieting and body checking behaviors, and weight and shape concerns were widely endorsed. Younger age and higher body mass index (BMI) were associated with greater endorsement of eating disorder symptoms, behaviors, and concerns. Discussion: Weight and shape concerns and disordered eating behaviors occur in women over 50 and vary by age and BMI. Focused research on disordered eating patterns in this age group is necessary to develop age‐appropriate interventions and to meet the developmental needs of an important, growing, and underserved population. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012;45:832–844)