Breaking the Stigma Surrounding Eating Disorders in Mexico
In Mexico, 1.6% of adolescents face hidden eating disorders, often emerging as young as 12. Martha Georgina Ochoa Madrigal warns of their severity, emphasizing the need for timely, multidisciplinary interventions to save lives.
On the surface, statistics may paint a picture of health, but beneath the veil of normalcy lies a silent struggle that transcends age, gender, and societal norms. According to the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut) Continua 2022, in Mexico, 1.6 percent of adolescents teeter on the precipice of an eating disorder, a condition more prevalent than statistical reports suggest, often shrouded in secrecy and hidden behind closed doors.
Martha Georgina Ochoa Madrigal, an academic at the Graduate Studies Division of the UNAM School of Medicine, sheds light on this pressing issue as the world commemorates the International Day for the Fight against Eating Disorders on November 30. She emphasizes that while globally, eating disorders are more frequently diagnosed in women, the severity is equally alarming when manifested in men.
In the past, the narrative surrounding eating disorders centered around patients aged 14 to 18. However, Ochoa Madrigal, who also heads the Psychiatry, Paidopsychiatry, Psychology, and Neuropsychology Service of the National Medical Center 20 de Noviembre, ISSSTE, reveals a disturbing trend. These disorders are emerging at younger ages, with cases as young as 12 years old or even younger.
The most common of these disorders is anorexia, a condition that dramatically alters the lives of those affected and their families. Ochoa Madrigal underlines that the triggers for these disorders remain elusive, but many patients recount pivotal moments or remarks about their weight that became deeply ingrained in their minds, setting them on a perilous path.
“A patient narrated that after nose surgery, she ate less, and everyone praised her for being lighter. From there, this idea of having to be thin was generated,” Ochoa Madrigal explains. This fixation often leads to sophisticated dietary habits, avoiding certain foods and meticulously counting calories. Another alarming symptom is the distortion of body image, where individuals perceive themselves as fat despite being severely underweight.
What makes these disorders even more insidious is the chaotic diet patterns – sometimes restricting to a single item or abstaining from food altogether. The severity can progress to the point of starvation, posing a grave risk to life if left untreated.
Ochoa Madrigal stresses the critical importance of timely intervention, highlighting the potential physical, hormonal, and cardiac complications that may necessitate hospitalization. In severe cases, patients may require parenteral solutions to address their compromised physical condition.
Furthermore, eating disorders frequently bring a slew of comorbidities, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, complicating the treatment process. Bulimia, another disorder characterized by binge-eating followed by purging, and Pica, an inclination to eat non-food items, further compound the multifaceted nature of these conditions.
The path to recovery demands a multidisciplinary approach, with a specialized psychiatrist for children and young people at the helm. Psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and nutritional support become crucial tools to rewire healthy eating habits and body image. Ochoa Madrigal underscores the significance of family therapy, recognizing the influence of parents and siblings on the patient's behavior.
In extreme cases, surgical interventions targeting the brain may be considered, but these are reserved for refractory cases with no alternative options. As we reflect on the International Day for the Fight against Eating Disorders, it is a poignant reminder that these silent battles demand our attention, understanding, and a collective effort to break free from the shackles of stigma and silence.
