People going through the menopausal transition may be at a higher risk of developing certain eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Menopause may also worsen existing eating disorders.
Menopause is a life stage that can bring about a wide range of mental and physical changes. And in some cases, those changes might negatively affect your eating patterns and your feelings about your body.
If you think you may be experiencing an eating disorder or disordered eating behaviors, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
Terminology
There’s a difference between “disordered eating” and “eating disorders.”
People experiencing disordered eating may have behaviors and symptoms similar to those of eating disorders, but their symptoms may not be severe enough or occur often enough to meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.
In either case, if disordered eating symptoms are affecting your quality of life, you deserve help and can consider reaching out to a mental health professional.
People who are going through menopause may have a higher risk of disordered eating or eating disorders for a few reasons.
Contributing factors
Factors that may contribute to the risk of disordered eating behaviors or eating disorders during menopause include:
- Hormonal changes: Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during the menopausal transition may affect brain activity and reward responses around food. These hormonal fluctuations may also affect appetite.
- Body composition changes: Menopause may lead to certain body changes, such as increased abdominal fat, weight gain, and loss of muscle mass. These changes may affect your self-image.
- Reduced self-image: Menopause-related body changes can contribute to greater body dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem. In turn, these factors may contribute to disordered eating.
Menopausal stages
Some research suggests that certain menopausal stages may be associated with different eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors. For example, a 2024 research review mentions the following possibilities:
- People in perimenopause (the time period leading up to the end of menstruation) may be more likely to experience binge eating behaviors.
- People in postmenopause (the time period after menstruation stops completely) may have higher levels of restrictive eating behaviors.
However, other researchers have come to different conclusions.
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Ultimately, more research is necessary to understand how menopause symptoms and stages may affect the risk of eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors.
The following table lists some symptoms of eating disorders that may occur or worsen during the menopausal transition.
| Eating disorder | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| anorexia nervosa | • fear of gaining weight • food restriction • self-induced vomiting • excessive exercising • misuse of medications such as laxatives or diuretics |
| bulimia nervosa | • high food intake followed by one or more methods of removing food or calories (vomiting, exercise, medication use) • a sense of lack of control when eating • secretive eating |
| binge eating disorder | • food intake despite being full or not hungry • a sense of lack of control over eating behaviors • a habit of eating alone |
This list isn’t comprehensive, and symptoms can often overlap between eating disorders. If you’re experiencing symptoms like these, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for a firm diagnosis and management plan.
The following treatments may be part of a comprehensive management plan for eating disorders.
Therapy
- cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing harmful thought or behavior patterns
- interpersonal psychotherapy, which can help address challenges in interpersonal relationships
- focal psychodynamic therapy, which addresses issues specific to eating disorders
If you want to try therapy, talk with a qualified mental health professional.
Medications
Some medications, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), are FDA approved for treating eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Other antidepressants may help manage coexisting conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Nutritional counseling
People with eating disorders may need professional help with adjusting their calorie intake or incorporating a wider variety of foods into their eating plan. Vitamin and mineral supplements may also be necessary.
A healthcare professional can help you create a treatment plan that’s right for your specific situation.
Mindset
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Encouraging conversations around menopause and aging may help reduce the stigma associated with this phase of life and may, in turn, help decrease the impact of menopause on your mindset.
Getting help
If you’re preoccupied with food or your weight, feel guilty about your food choices, or engage in restrictive diets, consider reaching out for support. These behaviors may indicate a disordered relationship with food or an eating disorder.
Disordered eating and eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender identity, race, age, socioeconomic status, or other identities.
They can be caused by any combination of biological, social, cultural, and environmental factors — not just by exposure to diet culture.
Consider speaking with a healthcare professional or contacting the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, which offers a daytime helpline staffed by licensed therapists and an online search tool for treatment options.
For general mental health support at any time, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24 hours a day at 1-800-662-4357 (or 1-800-487-4889 for TTY).
Some menopause-related factors, such as hormonal fluctuations and other physical changes in your body, may increase your risk of developing an eating disorder or worsen an existing disorder.
If you’re experiencing symptoms that might be related to disordered eating or an eating disorder, talk with a healthcare professional. Many treatments are available to help you manage your symptoms and restore a healthy relationship with food.
Connect with us
- Learn more about eating disorders.
- Visit our Menopause resource center.
- Sign up for our Menopause newsletter.
