BOSTON -- Most people think of eating disorders as a problem that strikes girls and young women. But increasingly, experts said, eating disorders are becoming an epidemic among baby boomers, Boston television station WCVB reported.

At 41 years old, Lauren is finally gaining control of her body and her life. She has suffered from bulimia and anorexia for 25 years.

"I consider it like a heroin addiction," Lauren said. "I was terrified at this time last year that I was going to die."

Lauren is not alone in her struggle. Experts say between 1 million and 3 million middle-aged women in this country have anorexia or bulimia. One out of every 10 eating disorder patients is over 40.

"There's probably a several-fold increase in the last decade of middle-aged women seeking treatment," said Dr. David Herzog, director of the Harvard Eating Disorders Program at Mass General Hospital.

According to Herzog, a mid-life crisis or the fight against mid-life weight gain can trigger eating disorders.

"They may be married or suffered a divorce. They may be have had a recent loss of a parent," he said. "There is pressure out there to maintain a more youthful appearance."

Herzog said some women have been struggling in silence for years. But whether the patient is middle-aged or a teenage girl, he said characteristics to look out for are primarily the same.

"They may be restricting their intake or they may be binge eating or engaging in self-induced vomiting or purging behavior," said Herzog.

Lauren wants people to know that women of all ages are winning their personal battles with eating disorders by getting help from treatment centers like MEDA, the Multiservice Eating Disorders Association, of Newton, Mass.

Lauren said she is not bulimic or anorexic anymore.

"I am feeling amazing. I'm learning myself again, I feel healthy," she said.