Eating Disorders Too Common in Women Over 40

Sixty-five percent of American women between the ages of 25 and 45 report having disordered eating behaviors, according to the results of a new survey by SELF Magazine in partnership with the University of North Carolina.

Despite the stereotype that eating issues affect mostly young women, the survey found that those in their 30s and 40s report disordered eating at virtually the same rates. Findings show that:

-- 75 percent of women report disordered eating behaviors or symptoms consistent with eating
disorders; so three out of four have an unhealthy relationship with food or their bodies
-- 67 percent of women (excluding those with actual eating disorders) are trying to lose weight
-- 53 percent of dieters are already at a healthy weight and are still trying to lose weight
-- 39 percent of women say concerns about what they eat or weigh interfere with their happiness
-- 37 percent regularly skip meals to try to lose weight
-- 27 percent would be "extremely upset" if they gained just five pounds
-- 13 percent smoke to lose weight

Eating habits that women think are normal such as banishing carbohydrates, skipping meals and in some cases extreme dieting may actually be symptoms of disordered eating.

You can take the Self's survey by clicking here.