“It’s Never Too Late”: Recovery from Disordered Eating in Your 60s and Beyond
What if full recovery from decades of disordered eating was not only possible—but joyfully transformative—even in your 60s?
In a world obsessed with youth and thinness, particularly for women, we rarely hear stories of eating disorder recovery from those in later life. But that’s precisely why this conversation needed to happen.
I recently had the privilege of sitting down with two incredible women from my group coaching community—Christina (64, Australia) and Susie (69, USA)—who not only began their recovery journeys later in life, but are now living in freedom, self-acceptance, and even deeper joy than they ever imagined.
Unlearning a Lifetime of Restriction
Both Susie and Christina first developed eating disorders in the 1970s. At the time, knowledge about anorexia and disordered eating was limited, and treatment often involved little more than forced refeeding and hospitalisation. Over time, both women transitioned into what they believed was “normal” eating and living—but the disordered behaviours never truly went away.
“I thought I was just one of the lucky ones—disciplined, slim, healthy,” Susie shared. “But I now realise I was simply still living in restriction.”
For Christina, the disordered behaviours quietly persisted for over four decades, hidden beneath a successful career in the fitness industry and a commitment to maintaining a lean physique. It wasn’t until menopause hit and her usual methods stopped “working” that everything changed.
“I didn’t understand what was happening. My body suddenly wasn’t responding in the same way, and for the first time, I developed a tummy. I panicked,” she admitted. “It was only through Victoria’s podcast that I realised I’d been controlled by an eating disorder all along.”
The Wake-Up Call
For both women, there was a moment of reckoning—a time when they realised they simply could not sustain the restriction, the control, the pressure to stay small.
“I was emotionally and physically exhausted,” Christina said. “And then I found Victoria’s group and everything shifted.”
Susie echoed the sentiment: “It began to feel unbecoming. I was almost 70, and I was still consumed by food and body thoughts. It just didn’t feel like who I wanted to be anymore.”
The Power of Community & Deep Work
While they joined from opposite sides of the globe, Susie and Christina met through my group coaching platform and instantly formed a deep bond. They now message each other daily and have walked the path of recovery side-by-side.
Through the group programme and its deeper modules—including inner child healing, body image reprogramming, and value-based living—both women experienced profound shifts.
“The inner child work helped me understand where my beliefs about worth and control came from,” said Susie. “And for the first time, I’ve stopped seeing my body as a project and started seeing it as a home.”
Christina agreed. “Doing the values work made me realise authenticity is one of my top values. That changed everything.”
The Challenges of Ageing in Recovery
Both women shared that gaining weight in later life felt particularly confronting—not only because of a lifetime spent in thinner bodies, but because of the ageing process itself.
“I kept thinking, ‘If only I’d gained this weight in my 30s or 40s, when my skin was firmer,’” Christina said. “Now it’s saggy and cellulite-y. But I’m learning to love her—the older version of me.”
Susie added, “We had to adjust not only to bigger bodies, but to older ones. That’s a unique layer in later-life recovery.”
The Beauty of What’s Gained
When asked what they’d gained alongside the weight, both women lit up.
“Freedom,” Susie said instantly. “I’m no longer counting calories in my head or planning meals obsessively. I’m present in my life.”
“I’ve gained myself,” Christina said. “For the first time, I feel like I’m just being me. And that’s more beautiful than any ‘ideal body’ I ever had.”
They’ve also gained the joy of connecting more deeply with others, the ease of saying yes to life, and—most importantly—the realisation that their worth was never tied to their weight.
Their Message to You
To the woman reading this in her 50s, 60s, or 70s who’s still stuck in the grips of dieting, restriction, or body obsession—Christina and Susie want you to know:
- You are not alone.
- It’s never too late.
- Your body knows exactly what to do—trust it.
- You don’t have to stay in this forever.
- There is life on the other side—and it’s full of joy.
As Susie put it perfectly: “Do you really want to spend your final decades counting almonds and fearing peanut butter? There’s so much more to live for.”
And she’s right.
Further Support:
Want to walk your own path toward recovery in a safe, supported group environment?
Learn more about the Body Love Binge
Email me questions for Susie & Christina’s next appearance: victoria@victoriakleinsman.com
