Ep #4: Disordered Eating in Perimenopause & Menopause with Lucene Wisniewski, Ph.D., FAED

“By age 40, one in five women has dealt with an eating disorder—twice the rate we see by age 21.” – Harvard University

While society often frames eating disorders as a struggle for teenagers, the reality is that women in midlife are increasingly vulnerable. In this episode, Dr. Rachel Pope addresses the “silent epidemic” affecting millions of women as they navigate the convergence of hormonal shifts, body image pressures, and life transitions.

As we continue our New Year’s series on weight management and GLP-1 medications, Dr. Pope is joined by internationally recognized expert Dr. Lucene Wisniewski. Together, they discuss the thin line between a healthy focus on nutrition and the onset of disordered eating. Why do perimenopause and menopause create a “biological window of risk”? How do we distinguish between “discipline” and “obsession”?

Dr. Lucene Wisniewski, PhD, FAED, is a leader in eating disorder treatment and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with nearly 30 years of experience. She provides a compassionate, evidence-based look at how women can protect their mental health while pursuing physical wellness.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Hormonal Connection: Why the menopause transition is a high-risk period for both relapses and “de novo” (new) eating disorders.
• Effective vs. Rigid Eating: Moving away from black-and-white “food rules” toward a flexible, social, and balanced relationship with fuel.
• Red Flags in Midlife: How to identify signs of preoccupation, body checking, and the moralization of food.
• The “Binge-Restrict” Cycle: Why “not eating” is often the biggest trigger for out-of-control eating.
• Tracking Apps & Tech: When tools like macro-trackers stop being helpful and start becoming a “life stance.”
• ARFID in Adults: Understanding Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and how it differs from traditional anorexia.
• Supporting Others: How to broach a conversation with a friend or family member without causing shame (and why you should never do it at the dinner table).

National Resources for Help:

• NEDA Helpline: (800) 931-2237
• Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741
• ANAD Helpline: (888) 375-7767

About Our Guest:

Dr. Lucene Wisniewski is the Founder and Chief Clinical Officer of the Center for Evidence-Based Treatment (CEBT). She is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University.

Connect with Dr. Wisniewski:

• Website: cebtohio.com

Connect with Dr. Rachel Pope:

• Website:ourwomanity.com
• Social Media:@drrachelpope