The menopausal transition--a possible window of vulnerability for eating pathology.
Int J Eat Disord
; 46(6): 609-16, 2013 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23847142
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
No published studies, to our knowledge, have examined the association of menopausal status with eating disorders and body image in women. We assessed these associations in a large sample of middle-aged women.METHOD:
We administered an anonymous questionnaire to a randomly selected nonclinical sample of women aged 40-60 in Innsbruck, Austria. The questionnaire covered demographic items, menopausal status, weight history, measures of body image, and current eating disorders as diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria. Using modified WHO criteria, we classified the respondents' current stage of menopausal transition as premenopausal (N = 192), perimenopausal (N = 110), or naturally postmenopausal (N = 134). In a separate analysis, we also examined the small group of women with surgically induced menopause (N = 12).RESULTS:
The three groups were similar in all demographic features except age, and did not differ significantly on current body mass index (BMI), weight-control behaviors, or dieting history after age adjustment. However, perimenopausal women reported a significantly greater prevalence of eating disorders as compared to premenopausal women. Perimenopausal women also reported significantly higher self-ratings of "feeling fat" and higher Body Shape Questionnaire scores than premenopausal women. Women with surgically induced menopause also showed an elevated prevalence of eating and body image pathology.DISCUSSION:
Our data suggest that the menopausal transition is associated with an increased prevalence of eating disorders and negative body image. Menopause, like puberty, may perhaps represent a window of vulnerability to these conditions, likely because of changes in hormonal function, body composition, and conceptions of womanhood.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Imagem Corporal
/
Transtornos da Alimentação e da Ingestão de Alimentos
/
Perimenopausa
Tipo de estudo:
Prevalence_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article