An update on the epidemiology of eating disorders in Latin America: current findings and future challenges

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.