The Unrecognized Threat of Elderly Eating Disorder

The most common forms of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa (the fear of gaining weight therefore preventing its intake), bulimia nervosa (overconsuming food just to get rid of in an unhealthy way) and binge-eating disorder (a compulsion to eat large amounts of food). Poor nutrition is a major cause of chronic illnesses such as osteoporosis, which can further increase the risk of falling and could have catastrophic consequences.

There could be both physical and mental reasons why a senior’s appetite is flipped upside down. It might be the side effect of a particular medicine or poor dental fittings. An inactive lifestyle or a prolonged sickness could also lead to eating disorder, since they burn fewer calories that they perhaps should. It’s also possible that the elderly person is simply unable to look after themselves anymore, skipping meals because they are unable to cook.

The topic of anorexia is very rarely brought up while talking to your relatives. And even if you do inquire about their lack of appetite, they often understate the issue, claiming it is nothing more than a ‘passing problem’. If you suspect that a senior friend or relative is ditching their meals, then it’s recommended that you spend some time trying to monitor their daily routine in one way or another. This is especially important for those who have already have fallen victim of such an illness, since they can easily relapse.

The best way to keep an eye on an aging adult’s daily routine is to install a monitoring camera in the kitchen. Make sure that the device has night-vision and is motion-activated, because you’ll need constant feedback on how many times the resident visits the refrigerator. The problem with this solution, however, is that the elderly person might oppose the idea of being constantly supervised, and this could even lead to them avoiding the kitchen even more.