Researchers looked at studies from Latin America and the Caribbean to understand what people with eating disorders actually eat. They found only four studies, all from Brazil, that looked at people with binge eating disorder or bulimia. The research showed that people with these conditions eat a lot of high-calorie foods and don’t get enough important vitamins and minerals like iron and folic acid. Most studies used food diaries and 24-hour recall methods to track what people ate. The findings suggest we need more research in other Latin American countries to better understand eating patterns and help people with eating disorders.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What foods people with eating disorders eat in Latin America and the Caribbean, and how researchers measure food intake in this population
  • Who participated: Adults diagnosed with binge eating disorder or bulimia from four studies conducted in Brazil. No studies included people with anorexia nervosa
  • Key finding: People with binge eating disorder and bulimia eat highly processed, high-calorie foods and don’t consume enough vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, and folic acid compared to recommended daily amounts
  • What it means for you: If you or someone you know has an eating disorder in Latin America, this research suggests the importance of working with healthcare providers to ensure adequate nutrition. However, more research is needed in your specific country to provide better, culturally-tailored guidance

The Research Details

This was a scoping review, which means researchers searched through scientific databases to find and summarize all available studies on a specific topic. The team looked at three major medical databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and LILACS) for studies published up to November 2025 about food consumption in people with eating disorders in Latin America and the Caribbean. They followed strict guidelines called PRISMA to make sure their review was thorough and organized. The researchers were specifically interested in what foods people ate and what methods doctors and researchers used to measure food intake. They looked for studies that included adults diagnosed with binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa.

A scoping review is useful when there isn’t much research on a topic. By gathering all available studies in one place, researchers can see what we know and what we’re missing. This approach helps identify gaps in research and shows where more studies are needed. Understanding eating patterns in different regions is important because food availability, cultural preferences, and economic factors vary by country, so findings from one region may not apply everywhere.

This review has some important limitations to consider. Only four studies were found, and all were from Brazil, which means we don’t have information about other Latin American and Caribbean countries. The studies were spread over 20 years, so older research may not reflect current eating patterns. The small number of studies means the findings are preliminary and should be viewed as a starting point rather than definitive answers. The review did not include people with anorexia nervosa, so we don’t know about eating patterns in that condition in this region.

What the Results Show

The four studies examined showed that people with binge eating disorder and bulimia have highly variable calorie intake from day to day. When researchers looked specifically at binge eating episodes, people with binge eating disorder consumed the most calories. The main nutrients in their diets were carbohydrates (like rice and bread), fats, and proteins, with similar patterns during regular eating and binge episodes. Common foods included beef, rice, beans, and highly processed foods that taste very good but aren’t very nutritious. The calorie intake for people with bulimia ranged dramatically from about 19,000 to 158,000 calories per day, showing huge variation between individuals and days.

An important finding was that people with these eating disorders weren’t getting enough essential vitamins and minerals. Specifically, they had low intakes of vitamin E, folic acid, magnesium, and iron compared to recommended daily amounts. This is concerning because these nutrients are important for energy, brain function, bone health, and immune system function. The studies also showed that traditional Brazilian foods like rice and beans were frequently consumed, suggesting that cultural food preferences play a role in what people eat.

This review highlights a significant gap in research. While eating disorders have been studied extensively in wealthy, Western countries, there is very little research on eating patterns in Latin America and the Caribbean. The findings from this region may differ from Western countries due to different food availability, cultural eating practices, economic factors, and healthcare access. The fact that only four studies were found over a 20-year period shows how understudied this topic is in this region compared to other parts of the world.

The main limitation is that only four studies were found, all from Brazil, so we cannot generalize findings to other Latin American and Caribbean countries. The studies were conducted over a long time period (20 years), so older studies may not reflect current eating patterns. No studies included people with anorexia nervosa, so we don’t know about eating patterns in that condition. The small sample size means results are preliminary. Different studies used different methods to measure food intake, making it harder to compare results. The review did not assess the quality of individual studies in detail.

The Bottom Line

Based on this limited research, people with binge eating disorder or bulimia in Latin America should work with healthcare providers to ensure they’re getting adequate vitamins and minerals, particularly iron, magnesium, folic acid, and vitamin E. Consider working with a nutritionist familiar with local foods and cultural eating patterns. However, these recommendations are based on only four studies, so they should be viewed as preliminary guidance rather than definitive medical advice. More research is urgently needed to provide better, country-specific recommendations.

This research is most relevant to people with binge eating disorder or bulimia in Latin America and the Caribbean, their families, and healthcare providers in these regions. Healthcare professionals developing treatment programs for eating disorders in Latin America should pay attention to this research gap. Policymakers and researchers in Latin American countries should consider this a call to conduct more studies on eating disorders in their populations. People with anorexia nervosa should note that this review did not include research on their condition in this region.

Nutritional improvements from addressing vitamin and mineral deficiencies typically take several weeks to months to show benefits. Energy levels and overall health may improve within 4-8 weeks of better nutrition. However, eating disorder recovery is a long-term process that usually takes months to years with proper treatment and support. Don’t expect quick fixes; focus on gradual, sustainable changes with professional guidance.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily intake of key nutrients identified as deficient: iron, magnesium, folic acid, and vitamin E. Log these micronutrients weekly to identify patterns and ensure you’re meeting recommended daily amounts. Also track total daily calories and note any binge eating episodes separately to see patterns.
  • Use the app to identify iron-rich foods (beef, beans, leafy greens), magnesium sources (nuts, seeds, whole grains), and folic acid sources (beans, rice, leafy vegetables) that fit your cultural food preferences. Set daily reminders to include at least one food from each nutrient category. If you experience binge eating episodes, log them in the app without judgment to help identify triggers and patterns.
  • Create a weekly nutrition report showing micronutrient intake versus recommended amounts. Track energy levels and mood alongside nutrition data to see connections. Set monthly goals to gradually increase nutrient-dense foods while reducing highly processed options. Share reports with your healthcare provider or nutritionist to guide treatment decisions.

This research summary is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that require professional treatment from qualified healthcare providers. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please seek help from a doctor, mental health professional, or eating disorder specialist. The findings in this review are based on limited research from Brazil only and may not apply to your specific situation or country. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet or treatment plan.