The iconic words of Kate Moss in 2009, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” created a wave of self-hate among women in the noughties.
From Kate Moss to Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, and the Olsen twins, these prominent figures epitomized the era’s “skinny culture.”
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Credit: Alasdair McLellan
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Credit: Getty
Kate Moss was central to a fashion scene that celebrated “heroin chic,” making clear the beauty standards established from the late 1990s into the early 2000s. During this time, being ‘thin’ was the ideal, as recalled by 46-year-old Charlotte Lennard from London.
Growing up when a size zero was coveted, Charlotte’s experiences with these societal messages still affect her today. “The skinny narrative lingers in my mind and haunts me regularly,” she shares, recalling her early teens when she began comparing herself to peers.
“The skinny culture left me feeling inadequate, and when teased about my weight, I felt I deserved those comments.” At just 12 years old, Charlotte developed a binge eating disorder that she has never fully overcome.
A mother of two, Charlotte has been conscious of her weight for as long as she can remember and even sought therapy during her teenage years, which was beneficial. But decades later, perimenopause triggered a resurgence of those old habits.
For many women like Charlotte, the relentless societal emphasis on slimness endangers them, making them susceptible to disordered eating.
Perimenopause and menopause, times when hormone levels fluctuate, are critical periods for women who might find themselves more vulnerable to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
“It is a misconception that eating disorders only affect teenage girls,” states GP Dr. Philippa Kaye, author of “The Science Of Menopause.”
Research indicates that approximately 3.5% of women in midlife struggle with an eating disorder, and between April 2022 and March 2023, 15% of support sessions provided by Beat were for individuals aged 41 to 65.
Charlotte explains how routine tasks began feeling overwhelming. “On top of the constant hot flashes and night sweats, receiving a diagnosis of perimenopause made everything clear,” she says. “However, grappling with this transition in my body was entirely different.”
STOMACH FLAB MADE ME FEEL AWFUL
The first change Charlotte noticed was stubborn stomach flab that she had never experienced before. “It was disheartening. I hadn’t altered my diet, so it was difficult to understand,” she recalls.
“I explored every dietary option—keto, paleo, Weight Watchers, Slimming World, various cardio routines, and strength training—but nothing worked.”
Binge eating disorder, as defined by Beat, is a severe mental illness characterized by consuming large amounts of food in one sitting, resulting in feelings of loss of control and distress, often leading to restrictive eating afterward.
Many of us grew up during the height of diet culture, where foods were demonized based on calorie or fat content.
Stefanie Daniels
“Binge eating becomes a way for me to feel in control, albeit a horrible one,” reflects Charlotte. “The fear of others’ reactions kept me quiet about it, knowing that eating disorders often come with shame.”
After weeks of suffering alone, Charlotte confided in her husband, who was incredibly supportive.
“Eating disorders often serve as coping mechanisms,” explains Ruth Micallef, a mental health therapist at Eating Disorders Edinburgh. “In times of trauma, one may revert to past disordered behaviors or adopt them at any age as a coping strategy.”
FIGHTING HORMONES
Weight gain is just one of numerous symptoms women may experience during perimenopause or menopause. “Reduced estrogen levels alter fat storage patterns in the body,” Dr. Kaye explains.
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“Women who typically store weight in their hips and thighs might find it accumulating in their abdomen, leading to greater difficulty in trimming those areas.”
Additionally, other symptoms can contribute to weight gain, such as poor sleep and mental health challenges, while fluctuating hormones may heighten cravings for sugar and carbohydrates, complicating dietary habits.
“Engaging in restrictive diets, bingeing, or purging can worsen symptoms,” Ruth cautions. “The body is in a susceptible state during this phase, necessitating extra care.”
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE
Charlotte finds her issues exacerbated by social media, which often contributes to the eating disorders witnessed among teenagers. “Social media drives me to unrealistic comparisons,” she notes.
“Suddenly, mushroom coffees and fasting to eliminate belly fat flood my feeds, pushing me into shame spirals. I constantly question whether I’m doing enough to attain a certain look.”
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Close to half of women have sourced information regarding menopause from social media. Personal trainer Kate Roe-Ham, who has 83,000 followers, notes that unsolicited advice can be triggering for individuals with past eating disorders.
“With suggestions about keto, fasting, and low-calorie diets, people may feel compelled to try such methods, leading to food fears and restrictions,” she explains. After discovering that weight training alleviated her perimenopausal symptoms, Kate began a fitness business focused on empowering women during this transition.
“Weight gain is prevalent during this phase; sadly, I’ve noticed more women worrying about it and some developing issues for the first time.”
I DIDN’T FEEL ANYTHING WHEN BINGEING
At 37, Stefanie Daniels from Bushey, Hertfordshire, realized she was gaining weight around her midsection, significantly impacting her confidence.
She had entered menopause earlier than the UK average age of 51 after undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer. “It wasn’t only the physical changes,” she recalls. “It was the daily mental battle against my self-worth.”
Now 44, Stefanie reflects on her past, recognizing that she struggled silently with binge eating disorder. “I often felt disconnected while binge eating; food was a means to escape until I became painfully full,” she reveals. Guilt soon followed, leading her to restrictive behavior once more.
“It was a relentless cycle of feeling out of control, using food for comfort, and then deeply regretting it,” she adds. The menopausal transition intensified her previously complicated relationship with food.
SAFE MEASURES
Adopting healthy habits can significantly aid the management of menopause symptoms, but it is essential to approach them mindfully. “Exercise positively influences hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and mental well-being, irrespective of body size,” emphasizes Dr. Kaye, advocating for strength-building over merely achieving thinness.
“It’s crucial to separate fitness from weight loss. This period presents a chance to prioritize exercise for bone health and muscle maintenance.”
Addressing the more immediate hormonal symptoms takes precedence, Dr. Kaye suggests. “If exhaustion or emotional eating stem from depression, those issues should be prioritized before tackling dietary changes.”
In addition to lifestyle adjustments, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can alleviate severe symptoms, but it does not guarantee weight loss, she cautions. For Charlotte, HRT transformed her outlook, paired with therapeutic support from Overeaters Anonymous.
“Hormones significantly influence body image-related anxiety and food relationships,” she notes. “While I feel more in control now, I can still be rigid regarding food.”
Stefanie, who established a consultancy for menopause well-being, found bioidentical HRT to be beneficial as well, improving her sleep and clarity, enabling better food choices. However, she acknowledges that recovery from these challenges is rarely a straightforward journey.
“Women in perimenopause face immense negativity for their changing bodies,” she reflects. “The best gift we can provide ourselves—along with the example we set for our children—is to actively work on fostering a positive relationship with our bodies.”
