An update on the epidemiology of eating disorders in Latin America: current findings and future challenges. Issue 6 (18th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kolar, David R.; Mebarak, Moises
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in psychiatry. Volume 35:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 385
• Page End: 389
• Publication Date: 2022-07-18
• Subjects: eating disorders -- epidemiology -- Latin America -- prevalence; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000813
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-7367

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose of review: We systematically reviewed the recent literature on the epidemiology of eating disorders in Latin America. Recent findings: Most screened articles only investigated risk for eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors. Four studies reported prevalence for eating disorders. One study reported age-standardized prevalence ranging from 0.04% [95% confidence interval, CI (0.03, 0.06)] to 0.09% [95% CI (0.07, 0.13)] for anorexia nervosa and from 0.13% [95% CI (0.08, 0.17)] to 0.27% [95% CI (0.18, 0.37)] for bulimia nervosa. Three additional studies conducted in Brazil identified a general eating disorder point-prevalence of 0.40% in children aged 6--14 years and a point-prevalence of 0.7 % [95% CI (0.34, 1.55)] for bulimia nervosa, 1.4% [95% CI (0.81, 2.43)] for binge-eating disorder and 6.2% [95% CI (3.10, 5.27)] for recurrent binge eating. Summary: Since 2020, only few studies were published on the epidemiology of full-threshold eating disorders in Latin America. Prevalence was in a comparable range to previous findings. No studies regarding new DSM-5 eating disorder diagnoses were identified, and studies investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prevalence or incidence of eating disorders in these countries are needed.