“Countries with not even one single eating disorders specialist”

By Dr. Eva Trujillo, Mexico

Many of us look forward to World Eating Disorder Action Day on June 2nd with great emotion. For us, who work in the Eating Disorders field, this will be a very meaningful day because for the first time a group of more than 60 organizations, and growing, from different parts of the world, will unite with one voice.

On June 2, this united voice will represent the millions of patients and carers, researchers, clinicians, advocates and the scientific and medical community around the globe, to seek better access to accurate evidence based information, promote support to policy changes and advocate for resources at an international level.

There are Latin American countries and other underdeveloped areas in the world, with not even one single specialist in Eating Disorders. The majority of affected people are not in a treatment that could substantially improve their quality of life.

When we think about Eating Disorders in our current society, we as professionals can easily elucidate different ways in which these diseases can impact the affected people of all socioeconomic statuses, racial and ethnic identities, ages or gender, their families, their communities and the global economies. This is why I believe it is very important to have prevention and awareness programs as the World Eating Disorders Day for Action, because when we talk about eating disorders, usually the general population think of a food disease, but very few know correctly that Eating Disorders are serious, treatable illnesses that result from a complex interplay of genetics, biology and environment.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. It is vital that not only specialists, but any health carer can be able to do an early diagnosis and implement early intervention. Full recovery is possible.

The World Eating Disorders Action Day not only will advance the understanding of eating disorders in general population, it will be an opportunity to connect and partner within our global community to embrace diversity, create opportunities and raise awareness at an international level.

We invite you to join us in this global movement!

About Eva
Dr. Eva Trujillo, Medical Director of the Comenzar de Nuevo International Outpatient and Residential Eating Disorders Treatment Center, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, and Supervisor of new professionals of the Junior Professional Development Program from Comenzar de Nuevo, will step up to become the next AED President at the 2016 ICED in San Francisco. Her election marks a historic milestone in the global growth of the AED. Dr. Trujillo is the first Latin American to ascend to the AED Presidency. She has spoken and presented papers around the world, and published more than 20 articles and book chapters in the field. She was invited to be part of the Editorial Board of the International Journal for Adolescent Medicine.

Join Eva in supporting World Eating Disorders Action Day. Be sure to follow along on Twitter @WorldEDDay and hashtag #WeDoAct, #WorldEDActionDay, @WorldEatingDisordersAction on Instagram and World Eating Disorders Action Day on Facebook.