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Eating Disorders in Midlife and in the Elderly

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Hidden and Lesser-known Disordered Eating Behaviors in Medical and Psychiatric Conditions

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) in adulthood and in the elderly have, for a long time, been underestimated, and scientific research has focused on main risk periods of ED onset, adolescence and early youth.

However, recent studies have shown up a non-sporadic presence of EDs in old people due to late onset or to enduring EDs.

EDs in adults show many characteristics related to changes in sleep behaviour, feeding, body image and the more frequent presence of organic diseases.

Menopause can cause important effects on metabolic aspects, on weight fluctuation, on physical form and consequently on body dissatisfaction, thus becoming a risk factor for the onset of an eating disorder.

Finally, in the elderly, there are different nutritional needs compared to young people, and these can worsen medical complications due to EDs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Ferrara, Eating and Weight Disorders Center “L’Albero”, Private Hospital “Salus”, Ferrara, Italy

    Emilia Manzato & Eleonora Roncarati

Authors
  1. Emilia Manzato
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  2. Eleonora Roncarati
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Correspondence to Emilia Manzato .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Private Hospital "Salus" of Ferrara, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Emilia Manzato

  2. Formerly Sapienza University of Rome, Founding Editor of Eating and Weight Disorders, Campiglia Marittima, Livorno, Italy

    Massimo Cuzzolaro

  3. Experimental Medicine Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Editor-in-Chief of Eating and Weight Disorders, Roma, Roma, Italy

    Lorenzo Maria Donini

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Manzato, E., Roncarati, E. (2022). Eating Disorders in Midlife and in the Elderly. In: Manzato, E., Cuzzolaro, M., Donini, L.M. (eds) Hidden and Lesser-known Disordered Eating Behaviors in Medical and Psychiatric Conditions . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81174-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81174-7_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-81173-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-81174-7

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