Dangerous Habits On the Rise in Women Over 40 | KREX - News ...

Story Created: Nov 21, 2012 at 8:13 AM MST

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2012 at 10:15 AM MST

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Most can understand why eating disorders are common for teens and young adults. It's a time when their feelings and bodies are changing. However, that's not the only time when major emotional and physical aspects of your life can take a turn. In fact, new studies are finding a rise in one age group that is being pushed to dangerous behaviors.

"Weight loss is a $50 billion a year industry," said Krista Carpenter, licensed counselor.

With that much economic force, it's no surprise that the pressure to lose weight is not just affecting the young generation.

A few times a week, a group of women over 40 years old in Grand Junction meet at Crossroads Fitness to work out in a group atmosphere. When asked what they thought about the media pressures targeted at their age group, the women agreed that the pressures are building.

"Yeah I do think there's pressure on women after a certain age," said Jean Gauley.

Carpenter says that as these pressures mount, more and more women are developing severe habits later in life.

"13 percent of women over 50 actually exhibit one core eating disorder trait," said Carpenter. "So, that would be binge eating, over exercising, purging and things like that."

Carpenter says that as women transition from their 40s to their 50s significant changes in a their lives are causing major shifts in body image.

"You've got a lot of stuff going on like empty nest syndrome, divorces, menopause, retirement," said Carpenter. "All of those things can be things that will set off an eating disorder."

Crossroads Fitness trainer Rebecca Weitzel says the physical change can also be harsh on a woman's self esteem.

"All kinds of changes are happening and as you become less active just naturally in your life. sometimes you start seeing the muscle loss, maybe start seeing your skin start to loosen, people become a little more self conscious," said Weitzel.

So when does pushing yourself to look good, turn into a health risk?

"Our metabolisms do tend to slow down especially as we loose muscle after the age of 30 we loose a half pound of muscle a year and so if you're loosing that muscle, things are slowing down, and you may try to compensate by reducing your calories too much," said Weitzel.

"It's much more difficult to lose weight the older you get," said Gauley.

If you suspect someone in your life may be taking dangerous measures, there are some warning signs like social isolation, disappearing after meals, not wanting to eat with the family or really increased exercise.

Carpenter says she has multiple patients that exhibit signs of over exercising, and that could have serious impacts on their bodies.

"Over exercising can really wear on the joints, it can cause fatigue so that you don't have the energy to do the things that you enjoy doing," said Weitzel. "Finding that right balance is important because of course exercise is good, but there's always too much of a good thing."

Fortunately, there are plenty of positive resources available for women to stay healthy and stay safe.

"I like to tell women to start thinking about their body differently.
exercising in the right way, make sure that we include strength training, especially as women age, maintaining that muscle is kind of like the fountain of youth," Weitzel said.

"I wish we could get back into what's on the inside, and not so much how we look on the outside...although it's good to be healthy," said Thornburg.

"It's just important to be active and to live your life everyday to the best you can," added Gauley.

Carpenter says that if you suspect someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, have them go to a doctor immediately.

For more resources on healthy activities you can partake in try your local gym. Crossroads Fitness, for example, has a number of groups designed specifically for women over 40 years old.

Source: http://www.krextv.com/news/around-the-region/Dangerous-Habits-On-the-Rise-in-Women-over-40-180354231.html

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