Eating disorders prevention programs in Latin American countries: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Eating disorders (EDs) pose a significant public health challenge, necessitating effective prevention strategies.
• Limited evidence exists on the characteristics and efficacy of ED prevention programs specifically within Latin American countries.
• This systematic review addresses this gap by evaluating existing ED prevention programs in the region.

Approach:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (Cochrane, PubMed, Virtual Health Library) up to July 2022.
• Studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, regardless of design or sample, were included.
• The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias criteria were employed to assess study quality.

Key Points:

• Twenty-two studies were included, predominantly pilot, non-randomized studies from Mexico and Brazil.
• Interventions often utilized dissonance-based or social cognitive theory approaches, targeting adolescent girls and women.
• Despite methodological limitations, many programs showed significant reductions in ED risk behaviors, negative affect, and body image disturbances.

Conclusions:

• Existing ED prevention programs in Latin America show promising outcomes, warranting further development and rigorous evaluation.
• Research barriers include funding limitations, participant compensation laws, and training costs.
• Future efforts should focus on diverse samples, robust methodologies, and expanded program accessibility for broader impact.