Understanding Eating Disorders in Older Adults

 
Eating Disorders in
older adults
 
Tier 2
 
Eating disorder
 
An eating disorder is when the person has an unhealthy
attitude to food which can over their life and make them ill.
 
It can involve eating too much or too little, and/ or becoming
obsessed with their body and shape
 
There are treatment that can help recovery from an eating
disorder
 
Men and women of any age can get an eating disorder, but
they most commonly affect young women aged 13 to 17 years
of age.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/eating-disorders/
 
Older adults and eating disorder
 
There is a growing myth that eating disorders only
occur in adolescents or young adults 
This is not true 
 
 
Eating disorders can occur in older adults too and
often are not identified or diagnosed
 
 
Challenges
 
Diagnosing eating disorders in older adults can be
especially challenging because poor appetite and
weight loss can be due to many causes such as
physical causes ,medications ,sore mouth,
depression or dementia.
 
Healthcare professionals who work with older
adults are often not trained to consider/ identify
eating disorders in older patients
 
Diagnosis is important as treatment is different
 
 
Types of eating disorders
 
Eating disorders include
anorexia nervosa
bulimia nervosa
binge eating disorder
other less common ones
 
They have significant physical and mental health
consequences, even life-threatening ones.
 
Common symptoms
 
Common symptoms include
significant weight loss , maybe in a short
period of time
preoccupation with food and calories
frequent references to feeling fat
binge eating
evidence of purging (including the
presence of empty laxative packages)
development of food rituals
 
Treatment
 
If you suspect that someone has an eating disorder, request
an appointment with GP as soon as possible
 
 
 
After a full physical check, GP should refer to Old Age
Psychiatry Services for support and management such as
medication and psychological (talking) therapies.
 
Resource
: Beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Slide Note
Embed
Share

Eating disorders can affect older adults too, yet they are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Challenges in diagnosing these disorders arise from various underlying health conditions. Types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and others. Recognizing common symptoms such as significant weight loss and preoccupation with food is crucial for timely intervention. If you suspect an eating disorder in an older adult, seek medical help promptly for proper diagnosis and treatment, which may involve medication and psychological therapies.


Uploaded on Aug 04, 2024 | 0 Views


Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Eating Disorders in older adults Tier 2

  2. Eating disorder An eating disorder is when the person has an unhealthy attitude to food which can over their life and make them ill. It can involve eating too much or too little, and/ or becoming obsessed with their body and shape There are treatment that can help recovery from an eating disorder Men and women of any age can get an eating disorder, but they most commonly affect young women aged 13 to 17 years of age. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/eating-disorders/

  3. Older adults and eating disorder There is a growing myth that eating disorders only occur in adolescents or young adults This is not true Eating disorders can occur in older adults too and often are not identified or diagnosed

  4. Challenges Diagnosing eating disorders in older adults can be especially challenging because poor appetite and weight loss can be due to many causes such as physical causes ,medications ,sore mouth, depression or dementia. Healthcare professionals who work with older adults are often not trained to consider/ identify eating disorders in older patients Diagnosis is important as treatment is different

  5. Types of eating disorders Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa bulimia nervosa binge eating disorder other less common ones They have significant physical and mental health consequences, even life-threatening ones.

  6. Common symptoms Common symptoms include significant weight loss , maybe in a short period of time preoccupation with food and calories frequent references to feeling fat binge eating evidence of purging (including the presence of empty laxative packages) development of food rituals

  7. Treatment If you suspect that someone has an eating disorder, request an appointment with GP as soon as possible After a full physical check, GP should refer to Old Age Psychiatry Services for support and management such as medication and psychological (talking) therapies. Resource: Beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Related


More Related Content

giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#