Anorexia and bulimia rates have increased by more than 50% following the pandemic
The 3rd National ADANER Murcia Congress is held at UCAM under the slogan 'Eating disorders: updating the approach from an interdisciplinary view'
Experts from different fields such as nutrition, psychology and medicine are taking part in the 3rd ADANER Murcia National Congress, organised by the Murcian association for anorexia nervosa and bulimia (Asociación en Defensa de la Anorexia Nerviosa y Bulimia de la Región de Murcia) and UCAM, which was inaugurated at the Campus de Los Jerónimos today.
ADANER highlighted the increase in cases of anorexia and bulimia as a result of the pandemic, between 50 and 60%, and how these have worsened, while stressing that the incidence of these disorders is higher in teenage girls. In that regard, Carlos Peñafiel, representative of the association, stated that ‘they are usually very hard-working, demanding and perfectionist girls’, stressing that ‘when they start to behave strangely and lie about food, we should not think that these are teenage things, that it will pass; it is time to take action.’
At the same time, the important role secondary schools and universities can play in raising awareness of these eating disorders and their consequences was recalled.
Juan José Pedreño, Regional Minister for Health of the Region of Murcia, took part in the opening of the congress and stressed that ‘there are between 3 and 6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants of anorexia nervosa; between 40 and 100 new cases per year’. He also added that ‘it is possible for them to recover, so that they can have the same quality of life as any other citizen.’ For his part, the Minister thanked the Universidad Católica de Murcia and ADANER ‘for their work to encourage healthy lifestyle habits, prevention and early diagnosis.’
The event, which was attended by UCAM students from different studies in the field of health sciences and nutrition, was also attended by Antonio Alcaraz, Vice-Rector of University Outreach; José María Cayuela, dean of the UCAM Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, and Pilar Torres, city councillor for Social Welfare, Family and Health of the City Council of Murcia.
The Congress will last until tomorrow, Friday, with several round tables and workshops on obesity and eating disorders, the incidence of eating disorders in children and teenagers, and an update on the relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Eating Disorder, among other issues.