Definition
Use of the term “midlife” (also referred to as “middle age”) has varied in body image and disordered eating research. For example, McLean et al. (2010) defined it as 35–55 years of age, but other definitions have used 40–65 years. In order to reflect this variability, this entry will refer to research conducted with adults aged 35–65 years of age.
Historical Background
Most research on body image and disordered eating has focused on child, adolescent, and young adult populations and the development of interventions for these groups. This narrow focus has historically precluded knowledge on the prevalence of, and risk factors for, body image concerns and disordered eating later on in life and particularly in midlife when appearance changes can be drastic and uninvited. Weight gain is common during midlife, with an increase in fat mass and decrease in muscle mass. Further, the biological milestones of pregnancy and menopause can alter appearance. Pregnancy can cause women to...
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References and Further Reading
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Lewis-Smith, H., Diedrichs, P.C. (2016). Body Image and Disordered Eating in Midlife. In: Wade, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Feeding and Eating Disorders. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-087-2_197-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-087-2_197-1
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