Eating Disorders in Mexico Call for Comprehensive Care

On June 2, Mexico marks the National Day of Eating Disorder Awareness, underscoring the urgent need for prevention, early detection, and comprehensive treatment. Eating Disorders (EDs) are serious mental health conditions that significantly impact both psychological and physical health. Characterized by harmful eating behaviors and distorted body image, they can lead to severe, potentially life-threatening complications.

Although EDs can affect individuals of any age, gender, or ethnicity, they are most prevalent among adolescents and young adults, particularly females. According to the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT 2022), 1.6% of Mexican adolescent girls exhibit some form of eating disorder. However, broader estimates from UNAM and SSa suggest that up to 25% of adolescents in Mexico may suffer from disordered eating behaviors, many of which are linked to underlying mental health conditions. Alarmingly, less than 10% of those affected receive proper treatment, highlights the report. 

Among the most recognized disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, notes the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH). Others include orthorexia, an obsessive preoccupation with healthy eating, and vigorexia, an excessive focus on physical fitness and muscular development. Additional manifestations such as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and pica (consumption of non-food substances like clay, paper, or chalk) further illustrate the wide spectrum of EDs.

According to UNC School of Medicine, many individuals with disordered eating do not meet full criteria for anorexia or bulimia and are diagnosed with Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED). This includes cases like purging without bingeing or less frequent bulimic episodes. Though often overlooked, OSFED is serious and requires treatment. It is estimated that OSFED accounts for up to 30-40% of all eating disorder diagnoses worldwide, highlights ANAD. 

The causes of EDs are multifactorial. As explained by Gabriela Chávez, Clinical Nutritionist, Hospital Juárez Centro, and José Eduardo Otáñez, Specialist, FES Zaragoza, contributing factors may include neurobiological alterations, psychological trauma, low self-esteem, societal pressure to attain unrealistic beauty standards, bullying related to body weight, and dysfunctional family dynamics. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these issues, with some regions reporting increases of up to 15-20% in new cases, altering eating patterns due to remote work and schooling, increasing exposure to harmful social media content, and limiting access to professional support, say experts. 

Diagnosing an eating disorder requires a comprehensive evaluation, including a detailed medical history, physical examination, and assessment of eating behaviors. 

Treatment should be multidisciplinary and involve mental health professionals (psychologists or psychiatrists), clinical nutritionists, internists, nurses, laboratory technicians, and, when necessary, specialists such as gastroenterologists or nephrologists. Nutritional therapy plays a pivotal role by helping restore healthy body composition and correct physiological imbalances.

One of the most significant challenges in managing EDs is the lack of awareness among those affected. Many individuals do not recognize their symptoms as problematic or delay seeking help until the disorder severely impacts their physical health or social functioning. Family involvement is essential but often hindered by uncertainty and emotional distress. Warning signs include dramatic weight loss, obsessive calorie counting, avoidance of meals, excessive exercise, induced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, and noticeable changes in mood and social behavior.

In 2018, the Mexican Senate declared June 2 as the National Day of Eating Disorder Awareness with the aim of fostering public understanding and action. Globally, efforts are underway to increase awareness and treatment access, but barriers remain, especially in low and middle-income countries where less than 15% of affected individuals receive adequate care.