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Government estimates state that about 5.3 million women in the U.S. drink in a way that threatens their safety, health and well-being.  Fewer women than men are heavy drinkers, but female alcoholics die from their disorder at 50 to 100 percent higher rate.  This includes deaths from cirrhosis of the liver, stroke, heart attack, accidents and suicide.
Women’s issues related to alcohol are quite a bit different from men’s.  Women tend to have different drinking patterns than men, including hiding their drinking from family and friends.  In addition, women’s bodies react differently to alcohol.  Because women in general weigh less than men do, they can begin to have alcohol abuse problems at lower drinking levels.  Another factor is that men have more water in their bodies, meaning alcohol is dispersed more quickly.  Other differences in body composition between the sexes, such as hormones, also contribute to women experiencing higher blood alcohol concentrations compared to men.

Women’s Health Risks from Alcohol

The National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has identified alcohol as an important women’s health issue.  Women who are heavy drinkers are more susceptible to liver damage and heart disease than men who drink comparable amounts.  There is an increased risk of developing breast cancer for women who consume as little as one alcohol drink per day.  Studies also suggest that women are more susceptible to alcohol-related brain damage than men are.  

For women of child-bearing age, heavy drinking has been found in some cases to disrupt the normal menstrual cycle, contributing to infertility.  Drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy puts the fetus at risk of birth defects and learning disorders.  It also increases the risk of premature birth and miscarriage.
What Amount of Alcohol is Safe for Women Drinkers?

Due to the differences between men and women in terms of the consequences of alcohol abuse, government agencies such as the NAAA have created separate guidelines for women’s consumption of alcohol.  For women, moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink per day, as compared to two drinks per day for men.  In addition to causing the health problems listed above, drinking in excess of this amount increases the risk of automobile crashes, suicide and of being victimized by violence.  

Treatment for Women’s Alcohol Problems

The most effective alcohol treatment for a woman depends on the severity of her problem.  Women who are not yet addicted may be able to curtail their drinking with counseling.  Those who have developed alcohol dependence or addiction should seek professional help.  Heavy drinkers who abstain from alcohol may undergo extreme withdrawal symptoms.  Detoxification should take place under a doctor’s supervision, followed by therapy that focuses on a woman’s personal issues and helps her begin a new life of sobriety.

In reality, more than 10 million American from all walks of life suffer from eating disorders that include anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.  According to a recent article in The New York Times, a surprising percentage of people with eating disorders are women in mid-life or older.

Judith Shaw, a 58-year-old yoga instructor, was approaching the age of 40 when a need for validation caused her to become obsessed with diet and exercise.  She began to spend hours each day working out at the gym, sacrificing family time in favor of exercise.  Even though her weight dropped to 85 pounds, no one in her life said anything about her weight loss and exercise obsession.  Her doctors praised her efforts at avoiding weight gain as she got older.  Finally, after two falls left Judith with a broken arm and pelvis, another yoga instructor begged her to start eating and get help.  Due to years of malnourishment, Judith had developed osteoporosis as well as anemia.

Some women over 40 with eating disorders were first diagnosed as young women and overcame the problem, only to suffer a relapse as they age.  An even greater number are like Judith Shaw and develop an eating disorder problem later in life.  For these adult women, gaining control over their weight and becoming stronger through exercise begins as a positive activity but becomes life-threatening when carried to an extreme. 

The Eating Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has seen a shift in its patients from mostly adolescents to an even mix of teens and adults.  According to program director Cynthia Bulik, women in their 50s and 60s are influenced by American culture’s emphasis on slimness and the perfect body.  When it comes to anorexia, older women abuse their bodies in the same ways as teenagers.  Laxatives, a restricted diet and constant exercise are used to slim down and maintain a low body weight.

Eating disorders are often triggered by anxiety-inducing life changes.  For young women, this could be a divorce in the family or going away to college.  For more mature women, having a baby or seeing grown children move out of the house are stressful events that can lead to eating disorders.  Because these women appear to be functioning well in other areas of their lives, their eating and exercise problems go undetected.  Judith Shaw commented on her situation, “It was no one’s job to fix me, but I wish someone had said to me: ‘I miss you. You’re gone. You’re so obsessed.’ ”

Fortunately, most adult women with eating disorders respond well to the same type of treatment that is used for adolescents and young women.  It’s important to get help early in order to avoid the effects of bone loss and osteoporosis.  By working with therapists and nutritionists, a woman over 40 can begin to understand the origins of her illness and develop a more realistic body image.  Nutritional counseling will help her adopt healthier eating habits. 
In the case of Judith Shaw, art therapy helped her overcome her eating disorders.  Her art work related to body image is currently on display at Columbia University’s Center for Eating Disorders.  She is now 30 pounds heavier, but has shed the emotions that led to her anorexia. 
   

A new study has found that teenagers who suffer from eating disorders are more likely to harbor suicidal thoughts.  According to research published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, adolescents with eating disorders are also more likely to suffer from substance abuse and anxiety disorders.  Additionally, the research surprised even experts in the field when it revealed that more than half a million U.S. teens admit to having the symptoms of eating disorders. 

These findings come from a survey of more than 10,000 teenagers, the most comprehensive survey of its type ever completed in the U.S.  Researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health analyzed the survey data and reported these findings:

•    1.6% of teens surveyed suffer from binge-eating.  A binge-eater will compulsively consume large amounts of food without feeling hunger, then experience depression and guilt.
•    0.9% suffer from bulimia nervosa, which involves binge-eating with purging through self-induced vomiting, consumption of laxatives and over-exercising.
•    0.3% suffered from anorexia nervosa, which is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. 

Each of these eating disorders involves a preoccupation with body image and weight.  Depression is often a trigger for binge-eating disorders, while anorexia and bulimia may begin with a concern about being made fun of for being overweight.  The disorders affect both males and females.  While more girls than boys were found to have bulimia and binge-eating, an equal number of males and females suffering from anorexia. 
One of the most shocking findings of the research is that one third of the teens with bulimia reported having attempted suicide.  The research also revealed the link between eating disorders and substance abuse, a topic that has been studied by other researchers. As many as 50% of people suffering from anorexia and bulimia have been found to have substance abuse problems.  Alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines and tobacco are the most commonly abused substances among people with eating disorders.

Risk Factors for Eating Disorders

The Eating Disorders Coalition has reported that eating disorders have a higher mortality rate than any other mental illness, with about 20% of people with eating disorders eventually dying from their condition. 
Parents of teenagers should look for these risk factors for eating disorders:
•    Depression
•    Low self esteem
•    Negative peer pressure or bullying
•    Anxiety, inability to manage stress
•    Obsessive compulsive tendencies
•    History of abuse or trauma
•    Family history of eating disorders
•    Impulsiveness 

Seek Help for Teens with Eating Disorders

Many teenagers feel that there is a stigma associated with eating disorders.  Despite the support of friends and family, they may cover up the symptoms of their condition for years.  Parents who suspect that their teenager is suffering from an eating disorder should seek professional help immediately.  With professional rehabilitation, the odds of recovering from an eating disorder and any associated substance abuse disorders are greatly increased. 

The Victorian Recovery Rocks Community - Irvina is amazing and keeps us up to date on cool happenings.

The Victorian Twitter - Also run by Victorian Alum who are plugged in to the SoCal (and global) ED network

ABA - Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous - 12-Step based recovery for ED sufferers

Overeaters Anonymous - Overeaters Anonymous 12-Step based recovey

AOCYPAA - All Orange County Young People in AA - AA is the most prominent 12-Step Program that a lot of our girls take advantage of