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Clinicians and researchers have traditionally viewed eating disorders (EDs) as disorders of adolescence and early adulthood; however, mounting evidence suggests these debilitating disorders also occur in older women (those 30 years of age and older). Unfortunately, the vast majority of research conducted on EDs has ignored older age groups, making it difficult to determine whether older women represent a distinct group among those with EDs. In order to address this limitation I conducted two separate, but related, studies designed to explore the experiences of older Canadian women with EDs and whether this group differs from younger women with EDs in meaningful ways. Study 1 explored how a treatment seeking sample of women ages 30 years and older diagnosed with an ED (N=14) experience their ED and the precipitating factors of ED episodes among this age group using qualitative framework analysis. Study 2 examined the differences in ED severity, symptomatology, comorbidities, and quality of life between women under the age of 30 (younger women; n=338) and those 30 years and older (older women; n=98) in a treatment-seeking sample using quantitative methods. Across both studies the core ED experiences and symptoms of older women were not significantly different from those of younger women. However, differences emerged that suggest older women with EDs are somewhat less severe in terms of their ED symptomatology and comorbid mental disorders, yet older women with EDs may face some unique challenges and consequences that set them apart from their younger counterparts. These results are discussed in the context of previous research understanding the relationship between aging, mental health, and emotional regulation. In sum, the current thesis suggests treatment for older women with EDs should incorporate interventions designed to address the core symptoms of EDs, improve healthy emotion regulation skills, reduce shame, address the consequences for the patients’ families and partners, and treat the multitude of physical health complications seen in this group. Moreover, greater awareness should be brought to the occurrence of EDs in older age groups in order to reduce shame, stigma, and improve early detection of and treatment for EDs among this population.Clinicians and researchers have traditionally viewed eating disorders (EDs) as disorders of adolescence and early adulthood; however, mounting evidence suggests these debilitating disorders also occur in older women (those 30 years of age and older). Unfortunately, the vast majority of research conducted on EDs has ignored older age groups, making it difficult to determine whether older women represent a distinct group among those with EDs. In order to address this limitation I conducted two separate, but related, studies designed to explore the experiences of older Canadian women with EDs and whether this group differs from younger women with EDs in meaningful ways. Study 1 explored how a treatment seeking sample of women ages 30 years and older diagnosed with an ED (N=14) experience their ED and the precipitating factors of ED episodes among this age group using qualitative framework analysis. Study 2 examined the differences in ED severity, symptomatology, comorbidities, and quality of life between women under the age of 30 (younger women; n=338) and those 30 years and older (older women; n=98) in a treatment-seeking sample using quantitative methods. Across both studies the core ED experiences and symptoms of older women were not significantly different from those of younger women. However, differences emerged that suggest older women with EDs are somewhat less severe in terms of their ED symptomatology and comorbid mental disorders, yet older women with EDs may face some unique challenges and consequences that set them apart from their younger counterparts. These results are discussed in the context of previous research understanding the relationship between aging, mental health, and emotional regulation. In sum, the current thesis suggests treatment for older women with EDs should incorporate interventions designed to address the core symptoms of EDs, improve healthy emotion regulation skills, reduce shame, address the consequences for the patients’ families and partners, and treat the multitude of physical health complications seen in this group. Moreover, greater awareness should be brought to the occurrence of EDs in older age groups in order to reduce shame, stigma, and improve early detection of and treatment for EDs among this population. / May 2016

Concerns about weight, shape and eating and attempts at dietary restraint are prevalent among young girls, but may increase the risk of the development of eating disorders, especially if low self-esteem or symptoms of depression are also present. The literature suggests that there may be links between mothers and daughters attitudes towards weight, shape and dietary restraint. The aim of the study was to investigate whether concerns about weight, shape and eating and attempts at dietary restraint differed between overweight and average-weight girls; and whether overweight girls had lower self-esteem, and/or more symptoms of depression than average-weight girls. Possible links between mothers' and daughters' attitudes towards weight and shape and dietary restraint were also investigated. Results showed that overweight girls had more concerns about weight, shape and eating and attempted dietary restraint more than average weight girls. Overweight girls had more negative perception of their athletic competence, physical appearance and global self-worth, and more symptoms of depression than average-weight girls. Mothers of overweight girls, who themselves had higher BMIs than the mothers of average-weight girls, had more concerns and negative beliefs about weight, shape and eating and attempted more dietary restraint, than the mothers of average-weight girls. Although there was some association between mothers' and daughters' concerns in the average-weight group these associations were not present in the overweight group. The conclusions were that overweight girls may be particularly vulnerable to the development of eating disorders, but that the links between mothers' and daughters' concerns are not straightforward.

No description available.

Although recent data suggest the existence of anti-fat attitudes, fear of fatness, and maladaptive eating attitudes among Indian women, few researchers have examined the cross-cultural validity of their instruments before assessing Indian samples. The present study assessed the measurement equivalence of three related measures, the Anti-Fat Attitudes Scale, the Goldfarb Fear of Fat Scale, and the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and tested the invariance of latent means among Indian (n = 226) and Euro-American (n = 211) female college students. Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses using maximum likelihood estimation with robust standard errors demonstrated reasonable measurement equivalence of the instruments across Indian and Euro-American groups. Confidence interval comparisons of latent means suggested that the Indians and Euro-Americans did not differ significantly in levels of fear of fatness or eating attitudes, but there were some group differences in anti-fat attitudes. Structural equation modeling suggested that fear of fatness and anti-fat attitudes predict about 66% of the variance in Indian eating attitudes; however, these results must be interpreted cautiously due to a poorly fitting measurement model. Results of multiple regression analyses suggested that the eating attitudes of the Indian respondents were not significantly predicted by theirsocioeconomic status or degree of Westernization. In conclusion, these data suggest that there are some similarities, but also some important differences, in the eating-related attitudes and behaviors of Euro-American and Indian women.

Eating disorders are known for their chronic and relapse-ridden course. The cyclical nature of these disorders poses not only grave physical and mental health risks for the sufferer; it also presents serious challenges for the treating professionals and places a high demand and cost on the health care system. In spite of extensive research, no reliable predictors of long-term EDs have been identified in either adult or adolescent populations, nor have treatments emerged that are specifically targeted towards treating those with a long-term ED. It is fundamental to understand who is at risk and what factors are involved in long-term EDs, as the clinical and treatment implications gleaned from this evidence could be quite impactful. The current project will include three studies that will explore long-term EDs in a large transdiagnostic sample of adolescents with an ED. It will also attempt to overcome methodological limitations associated with past studies of this type, and apply an operational definition of this course of illness that may provide a more reliable and valid method with which to identify these cases. As such, the use of the term refractory ED, defined as a return to same-type treatment, will be applied to best identify this group. The three studies proposed in this research project will provide long overdue information on predictors, profiles and growth trajectories of those adolescents who suffer from a refractory course of an ED. This research project attempts to answer the question of: who will be affected, and how will the individual be affected by a refractory ED. With the ability to identify these cases and how the course of illness is being affected, treatment approaches can better aim to provide the appropriate treatment to those individuals most at risk of suffering from a refractory course of illness.

For years, eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, have been studied extensively among adolescent girls and young women. However, despite recent research revealing a significant percentage of men display behaviours related to eating disorders, their individual experiences remain relatively unstudied. Additionally, given the reality that many males usually conceal or deny having the disorder, few studies yielding in-depth accounts of their lived experiences have also not been completed. This study, however, examined, through narrative inquiry, the experiences of two young adult males who were medically diagnosed with and treated, or were presently being treated, for disordered eating. Though each was not impervious to societal and familial pressures to look and be perfect, such pressures, tragically, were exacerbated by the pronounced fear, and actual experience, of being stigmatized by helping professionals. These findings provide a preliminary understanding of the threat that disordered eating poses for males, irrespective of background and lifestyle. Aside from having implications for theory, these findings are also expected to contribute in ways that will help to inform the practices of counsellors and therapists in the field of psychology.