Do any of these scenarios sound familiar to you? You have a friend who will live on coffee all day in order to "bank calories" so she can devour a five-course dinner later that night. Your sister treats herself to an entire box of her favorite cookies after a bad day at the office. You sweat through a two-hour workout to compensate for the ice cream sundae you ate the night before.

Historically, we associate eating disorders with the perils of teenage girls. But, these detrimental habits are gaining in prevalence among adult women. The Renfrew Center, which specializes in eating disorder treatment, saw a 33% increase in female patients, 35-years and older, from 2001 to 2004.

The book Runaway Eating, by Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. and Cynthia Bulik, Ph.D., identifies women who fall into the category between healthy eating and a downright eating disorder, as Runaway Eaters. Indications of this condition include binge-and-purge episodes, preoccupation with weight/body image, cycles of uncontrollable eating, excessive exercise and obsessive dieting.

Stress, social pressures and fluctuating hormones can instigate or exacerbate this problematic behavior. During perimenopause and menopause, hormone levels change. Excess estrogen causes bloating, sugar cravings and mood swings, making a woman feel fat, hungry and depressed. Too little estrogen causes depression, anxiety, hot flashes and night sweats, making her feel fatigued and irritable.

In addition, midlife brings about a unique set of challenges—pressures to keep a youthful appearance, aging parents, empty nest, retirement planning and more. Women often look to where they can have self-discipline or achieve perfectionism—like weight and diet—in order to compensate for these changes and challenges. Binge eating can bring comfort, while excessive bouts of exercise can bring a feeling of control.

There are ways to combat Runaway Eating and regain a healthy relationship with eating and body image. The underlying issue is emotional and speaking with a health professional is the best start. Other tactics include consulting a nutritionist, adopting a sustainable, nutritious diet and healthy exercise regimen and recognizing the mind-body connection.