Epidemiology of eating disorders in Latin America

Abstract

SPANISH ABSTRACT.

Latin American countries lead in Google search volumes for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: Implications for global mental health research

“…Austria (24) Germany (16) Switzerland (23) Norway (24) 1354 ELI countries than in Euro-American countries, whereas the pointprevalence of anorexia nervosa was lower (Kolar, Rodriguez, Chams, & Hoek, 2016). The present study appears to mirror these findings with respect to bulimia nervosa, while suggesting that anorexia nervosa might have greater salience amongst Latin American populations than epidemiological surveys have implied.…”

“…However, the few epidemiological studies that have been conducted suggest that eating disorders in Latin America warrant further attention. A recent meta‐analysis of epidemiological research carried out in six Latin American countries found that the point‐prevalence of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder was higher in those countries than in Euro‐American countries, whereas the point‐prevalence of anorexia nervosa was lower (Kolar, Rodriguez, Chams, & Hoek, ). The present study appears to mirror these findings with respect to bulimia nervosa, while suggesting that anorexia nervosa might have greater salience amongst Latin American populations than epidemiological surveys have implied.…”

“…For example, in the period studied (January 1, 2004–December 31, 2016), comparative data showed that the term “Eating disorders” was widely used among English‐speaking Google users in the United States (with an average search volume of 22 vs. 43 for the term “Anorexia”), whereas the equivalent terms “Trastornos alimentarios” and “Trastornos de la conducta alimentaria” were rarely used among Spanish‐speaking Google users in Mexico (with an average search volume of <1 vs. 31 for the term “Anorexia”). All considered, the search topics “Anorexia nervosa” and “Bulimia nervosa” were selected for two main reasons: (1) these terms allow for specificity, which is important given the extant, if limited, epidemiological data available on the disparate prevalence rates of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa globally, including in Latin America (Kolar et al ); (2) worldwide, for the period studied, the topic “Anorexia nervosa” had more than double the average search volume of “Eating disorder,” at 43 versus 18, and “Bulimia nervosa” had an average search volume of 52 versus 40 for “Eating disorder.”…”

Prevalência e fatores associados ao excesso de peso em uma população urbana do interior do Amazonas, Brasil

“…Nas últimas décadas, o excesso de peso e a obesidade passaram a ser um dos maiores problemas de saúde da humanidade devido ao aumento de suas prevalências em Tabela II -Prevalência do sobrepeso/obesidade, razão de prevalência e intervalo de confiança, segundo características socioeconômicas da população adulta investigada. Tefé, AM, 2015. todo o mundo (3,(5)(6)(7) . O excesso de peso tem aumentado de forma gradativa em todas as faixas etárias, desde a infância (21) até a idade adulta (14) e a sua ocorrência está associada a uma série de doenças crônico-degenerativas (14) .…”

“…Segundo os dados da Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde do Ministério da Saúde, em 2006, o índice de indivíduos adultos com sobrepeso era de 43%, enquanto os obesos representavam 13% da população (4) . Assim como no Brasil, estudos realizados na Europa (5) , nos Estados Unidos (6) e em países emergentes da América Latina (7) também apontam para um crescimento linear e gradual no número de indivíduos com excesso de peso ou com obesidade.…”