A new study led by Maria Bazo Perez, a recent doctoral graduate of Florida International University, has analyzed how emotional regulation and body image concerns relate to disordered eating symptoms in young and middle-aged women.
“Middle-aged women have always had eating disorders,” said Dr. Bazo Perez. “They were just misdiagnosed or never assessed.”
Using data from more than 1,000 women participants, Dr. Bazo Perez examined the intersection of biology, psychology, and social factors impacting women’s eating habits. Younger women who suffer from eating disorders are often diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia, disorders associated with dramatic weight loss. In contrast, middle-aged women are more likely to experience binge eating or night eating symptoms, which often cause weight gain.
According to Dr. Bazo Perez, a woman’s experience with menopause can predict her eating disorder behaviors. Women who find menopausal symptoms to be debilitating are more likely to develop disordered eating habits. Overall, emotional regulation difficulties were more strongly tied to eating disorder symptoms in middle-aged women than in younger women.
As most eating disorder prevention strategies are geared towards teenagers and younger women, Dr. Bazo Perez encourages physicians to inquire about patients’ eating habits throughout the lifespan.
“All women are exposed to societal pressures,” said Dr. Bazo Perez. “We need to revamp assessments so that no matter the age, gender, or ethnicity, patients are being asked the right questions. That screening at the primary care doctor needs to be done ASAP.”
Dr. Bazo Perez is a graduate of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and holds a master’s degree in psychology from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Since completing a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology from Florida International University in 2025, Dr. Bazo Perez has served as the research manager at Galen Hope, a mental health and eating disorder facility in Miami.