Restrained eating and self-esteem in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Abstract

Background: There has been limited research about disordered eating in middle-aged women, and to date, few data exist about restrained eating behavior in postmenopausal women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine eating behavior with a specific focus on menopause as an associated factor in restrained eating. Beyond this, we were interested in how postmenopausal status and self-esteem would interact to determine eating patterns in women in middle age. Methods: We conducted an online survey in women aged between 40 and 66. Eating behavior was assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in premenopausal (N = 318) and postmenopausal women (N = 250). All participants rated their self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) and reported their weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Results: 15.7% of all participants showed clinically meaningful scores on restrained eating. Postmenopausal women showed significantly higher scores on the EDE-Q subscale of restrained eating as compared to premenopausal women, but when controlling for body mass index, however, this finding was no longer significant. Further exploratory analyses suggest that particularly low or high self-esteem levels are associated with restrained eating. Self-esteem might serve as a mediator between menopausal status and restrained eating, however results of these additional analyses were inconsistent. Conclusions: Restrained eating may appear in middle-aged women. Particularly in postmenopausal women, restrained eating might be associated with lower and higher self-esteem.

Menopause is associated with decreased postprandial ghrelin, whereas a history of anorexia nervosa is associated with increased total ghrelin

“…Subjective feelings of hunger were assessed using a 10‐cm VAS and using the end‐points “hungry” vs “full”. Each VAS was presented immediately before the respective blood sample was taken.…”

“…Middle age has repeatedly been found to be linked with dysfunctional eating patterns in women. A recent survey showed that 6%‐16% of women aged between 40 and 66 years report clinically relevant levels of restrained eating and concerns regarding eating, weight and body shape . The hormone ghrelin has been demonstrated to be related to food intake, with plasma levels rising before eating and decreasing immediately afterwards .…”

Menopausal status and disordered eating and body image concerns among middle‐aged women

“…Some research indicates that postmenopausal women report greater dietary restraint and eating disinhibition compared to premenopausal women (Copeland, Martin, Geiselman, Rash, & Kendzor, ; Drobnjak, Atsiz, Ditzen, Tuschen‐Caffier, & Ehlert, ). Controlling for age, Deeks and McCabe () found no differences in eating disorder symptoms between menopausal women (both perimenopausal and postmenopausal grouped) and premenopausal women; however, Mangweth‐Matzek et al () found perimenopausal women reported a greater prevalence of eating disorders, higher rates of feeling fat, and greater body shape and weight preoccupation compared to premenopausal women.…”

Attention Control in Presence of Food Cues in Restrained and Unrestrained Eaters

“…Menopausal status can also cause eating patterns. Thus, while not every woman is necessarily predisposed to developing restrained eating patterns during her menopausal transition, her experienced self-esteem might influence this relationship (19).…”