Eating Disorders in Midlife: How Perimenopause and Menopause Can Trigger Disordered Eating11/3/2025 By: Megan Samuels, MSW, LCSW-C, Trauma and Eating Disorder Therapist  There’s a harmful myth in our society—that eating disorders only affect teenagers. This misconception can prevent adults from seeking life-saving support and perpetuates the false idea that eating disorders have an age limit. The truth? Eating disorders don’t discriminate. They can impact people at any age, and they often emerge or resurface during major life transitions—like perimenopause and menopause. In this blog post, we’ll explore how hormonal and life changes during midlife can influence eating disorders and body image—and how to seek support. Eating Disorders and Midlife: What the Research Says According to one study, about 4.6% of women between the ages of 40 and 60 meet the criteria for an eating disorder as defined by the DSM-IV (Mangweth-Matzek et al., 2014). One of the contributing factors? The hormonal shifts that occur during perimenopause and menopause. What Are Perimenopause and Menopause? The National Institute on Aging defines menopause as the natural stage of life when menstruation stops permanently, marking the end of reproductive years. The transition phase leading up to this is known as perimenopause, and it typically begins between ages 45 and 55, though it can start earlier or later. Common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause include:
These symptoms are tied to fluctuating hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone. Body Image and Hormonal Changes Many people going through perimenopause or menopause experience noticeable body changes—like weight gain, a shift in body composition, or bloating. In a culture steeped in diet culture and anti-aging messaging, these natural changes are often labeled as “bad” or something to “fix.” This narrative opens the door for disordered eating behaviors to take hold as individuals attempt to regain a sense of control or cope with feelings of shame, anxiety, or grief about their changing bodies. What’s more, these behaviors may be socially reinforced, making them harder to recognize as harmful. Life Transitions and Emotional Stressors Midlife often brings with it a range of external stressors, including:
The combination of hormonal fluctuations, shifting identities, and external pressures can create a “perfect storm” for disordered eating to emerge. How The Eating Disorder Center Can Help At The Eating Disorder Center, we offer specialized therapy for adults navigating midlife transitions, including perimenopause and menopause, who are struggling with body image and eating concerns. We provide in-person therapy in Rockville, Maryland, and virtual therapy across: Our therapists support individuals dealing with: We also have clinicians who specialize in eating disorders that co-occur with trauma, OCD, or mood disorders. Many of our therapists and coaches have either personally recovered from an eating disorder or supported a loved one through recovery. We blend compassion with structured, goal-oriented therapy to help you move forward. You’re Not Alone—Help Is Available If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder or an unhealthy relationship with food or body image during perimenopause or menopause, support is available—and healing is possible. Give us a call at 301-246-6856 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation. You don’t have to face this alone. Journal Prompts for Navigating Perimenopause, Menopause, and Eating Concerns Writing can be a powerful tool in understanding and processing your experience. Try reflecting on the following:
Schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation to explore how eating disorder therapy or recovery coaching can help you to find freedom. 🌟 Available in MD, VA, DC, PA, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy 🌍 Offering recovery coaching worldwide The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping children, teens, and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington, D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com
References: Mangweth-Matzek B, Hoek HW, Rupp CI, Lackner-Seifert K, Frey N, Whitworth AB, et al. Prevalence of eating disorders in middle-aged women. Int J Eat Disord. 2014;47(3):320–324. doi: 10.1002/eat.22232 National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). What is menopause? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause/what-menopause
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By: Megan Samuels, MSW, LCSW-C, Eating Disorder and Trauma Therapist  Halloween is an exciting time of year—for kids and adults. Whether it’s the creativity behind costumes, the spooky decorations, or the seasonal treats (hello, donuts with little spider-shaped sprinkles), the whole month of October is filled with festive fun. But lurking behind the jack-o’-lanterns and haunted houses is something that’s not just spooky—it’s harmful: diet culture. Diet culture creeps into our holidays, tricking us into believing that food must be earned, candy is dangerous, and our bodies must shrink to be celebrated. And during Halloween, it shows up in subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways that can dampen the joy of the season. Let’s take a closer look at how diet culture sneaks in during Halloween—and how we can reclaim the holiday as one that’s full of celebration, not shame. How Diet Culture Haunts Halloween 1. Limiting How Much Candy We “Should” Eat One of the most common ways diet culture shows up on Halloween? Telling ourselves or our kids how much candy is “too much.” But research shows that restricting food often increases cravings and makes the restricted food even more appealing (Harrison, 2019). When we encourage people—especially children—to use their natural hunger and fullness cues, we promote intuitive eating and build trust in the body. Halloween is a perfect opportunity to normalize eating candy without guilt or fear. 2. Feeling Pressure to Lose Weight for Costumes Costumes should be about creativity and fun—not conforming to unrealistic body standards. Yet, diet culture often tells us that we need to change our bodies in order to “deserve” wearing certain outfits. If you’ve felt pressure to lose weight for Halloween, ask yourself: Where is this pressure coming from? And what would it feel like to show up in the body you have today, just as you are? Spoiler alert: You’re allowed to celebrate exactly as you are—no size change required. 3. Offering “Healthier” Alternatives to Candy While variety is great, handing out “healthier” snacks like raisins, protein bars, or sugar-free items in place of candy—especially with commentary about sugar or health—can unintentionally send a message that fun foods are “bad.” Let’s break this down: most candy contains carbohydrates and fats—two macronutrients our bodies need. Carbs give us quick energy, and fats help us feel full and support vital body functions. Candy isn’t the enemy—it’s just food. How to Reclaim Halloween from Diet Culture 1. Find Joyful Distractions from Diet Talk If you’re around friends or family members who bring up dieting or weight during Halloween, it’s okay to disengage. Instead, immerse yourself in activities that spark joy: watching a Halloween movie, playing festive music, decorating pumpkins, or dressing up your pet (arguably the best Halloween tradition). You don’t have to explain or justify your boundaries—you can just enjoy the holiday your way. 2. Learn and Share What You Know Knowledge is power. Reading anti-diet books or listening to intuitive eating podcasts can help you better understand the ways diet culture shows up—and how to push back against it. If it feels safe and welcome, share what you’re learning with others. Many people perpetuate diet culture simply because they’ve never been taught another way. A little education can go a long way—but remember, not everyone is ready to hear it, and that’s okay too. 3. Practice Intuitive Eating (and Model It) Halloween is a great time to practice a more intuitive relationship with food. What does that look like? Eating candy without shame. Listening to your cravings and hunger cues. Resisting the urge to label foods as “good” or “bad.” When we trust ourselves around food—and let others see that trust in action—we’re planting seeds for a culture that values body autonomy, not restriction. In fact, intuitive eating has been associated with positive health outcomes such as lower cardiovascular risk, improved body image, and reduced risk for eating disorders (Harrison, 2019). Final Thoughts Halloween should be a time of joy, creativity, and connection—not judgment or guilt. Diet culture has a way of turning something sweet into something stressful—but it doesn’t have to be that way. This year, give yourself permission to enjoy the candy, the costumes, the chaos—and to fully participate in the fun without diet culture whispering in your ear. Because the scariest thing about Halloween shouldn’t be the calories. It’s the lie that your body isn’t good enough. Schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation to explore how eating disorder therapy or recovery coaching can help you to find freedom. 🌟 Available in MD, VA, DC, PA, FL, and CA for eating disorder therapy 🌍 Offering recovery coaching worldwide The Eating Disorder Center is a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center founded by Jennifer Rollin. We specialize in helping children, teens, and adults struggling with anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, OSFED, and body image issues. We provide eating disorder therapy in Rockville, MD, easily accessible to individuals in Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Olney, Silver Spring, Germantown, and Washington, D.C. We also provide eating disorder therapy in Arlington, Virginia and virtually throughout Virginia. Additionally, we offer eating disorder therapy virtually in Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. We provide eating disorder and EMDR trauma therapy in Rockville, Maryland and virtually throughout Maryland and Virginia. We provide eating disorder recovery coaching via Zoom to people worldwide. Connect with us through our website at www.theeatingdisordercenter.com
References: Harrison, C. (2019). Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating. Little, Brown Spark. |
The Eating Disorder CenterWe are a premier outpatient eating disorder therapy center in Rockville, Maryland.
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