Complaints about being Old, Fat can Lead to Higher Rates of Eating Disorders

A recent study shows a strong correlation between talks about being old and greater levels of body dissatisfaction, which can lead to higher levels of eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and many physical and mental health problems. 

Women are often labeled as complicated, as they are perceived to be difficult to understand. It is very common to see women of all ages complain about being old or fat. Their 'fat talks' take several forms like 'I wish I was of your size', 'this dress makes me look fat', 'I have to follow a serious diet', 'I feel so fat' and many more. 'Old talk' is also similar, but not much has been studied about this aspect.

It is already known that 'fat talk', in which the person has a tendency to make negative comments about their body, contributes to body dissatisfaction and intervenes between body dissatisfaction and mental health problems. Dissatisfaction with self-image is not just limited to teens and young women, older women indulge in 'fat talk' too.

Focusing on this, a recent study highlights the fact that a woman's dissatisfaction with her self-image may become more complex as she ages, and will move increasingly to focus on age and 'old talk'.

The study was conducted by psychology professor Carolyn Black Becker of Trinity University. Dr. Phillippa Diedrichs from the world-renowned Centre for Appearance Research at UWE Bristol is co-author of the study.

A survey was conducted on more than 900 American, Australian and British women belonging to the age group of 18-87. They were asked to complete a survey that took details about their age, weight, the kind of 'old talk'/ 'fat talk' they indulged in, along with the frequency.

The researchers noticed that 'fat talk' and 'old talk' occurred throughout women's lives. Though 'fat talk' declined with age, 'old talk' showed a steep increase.

Those women who engaged in excessive levels of 'fat talk' and 'old talk' had more problems with negative body image. Women of the age 46 and older who engaged in excessive 'old talk' were associated with body dissatisfaction.

Study co-author Phillippa Diedrichs, a senior researcher at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of West England and head of research at the Succeed Foundation, said in a press statement, "this study suggests 'old talk' may have similar negative effects on women. It also indicates that we should begin to explore the effects of media driven 'old talk' and 'fat talk.'"

The study was published in the journal Eating Disorders.