How to Appropriately Involve Children in Treatment as a Middle-Aged Adult in Eating Disorder Recovery

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

For adults falling under the age range of 45-65, this season of life can bring about many new challenges and changes.

The transition between young adulthood and old age can be especially difficult for the middle-aged adult struggling with an eating disorder. In a culture that stigmatizes eating disorders and stereotypes sufferers, having an eating disorder during middle-age can seem unexpected.

The reality is that eating disorders impact people irrespective of age. Research has found that approximately thirteen percent of women over the age of 50 have the symptoms of an eating disorder.

Many middle-aged individuals who are struggling with an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder, may be more reluctant to seek out the appropriate help and care they need for recovery.

Challenges For Treatment

Many middle-aged adults are within a place in life where changes and transitions may slowly be occurring. For example, children may begin leaving the home, creating the “empty nest”; some middle aged-adults may be evolving in a caregiver role for aging adults. Careers may be transitioning into a retirement phase, more medical and health issues may be apparent, and more. These transitions and various responsibilities can make it more difficult to seek out treatment. A middle-aged adult dealing with an eating disorder may also struggle with feelings of guilt and shame about their disorder, perhaps feeling as though they are “too old” to be dealing with something like an eating disorder, or that responsibilities cannot be left for treatment.

Regardless of age, professional and comprehensive treatment is needed for eating disorder recovery. When it comes down to it, eating disorders are fatal illness and require immediate attention and intervention. Some middle-aged adults struggling with an eating disorder may be “high-functioning”, continuing in a career, caregiver responsibilities and more while dealing with the debilitating effects of these diseases. Middle-aged adults with children may also feel more reluctant to being open about their struggle and seeking out the help they need. They may feel that they are letting their children down in some way or be embarrassed to reveal the extent of their struggles.

The Role Children Can Play

Whether in the adolescent, pre-teen or early adulthood years, children can play an incredibly valuable role in recovery process of their parents. Involving the entire family in the recovery journey can be deeply healing and therapeutic, and it is important to incorporate children in an appropriate manner.

Working with a marriage and family therapist who specializes in eating disorders as part of the recovery process can be helpful, in terms of guiding children along the journey. Children will likely have their own questions and emotions to process, and doing so as part of the recovery journey can be helpful. Children can also be involved with learning mel support ideas and strategies that may be helpful when eating together with a parent in eating disorder recovery.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

How did your family involve children as part of the recovery process for a loved one?

About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on September 13, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com