Eating disorders look different for everyone and unfortunately they often go undiagnosed or untreated within the Latinx community. There are many types of eating disorders and treatment options available online and for this list we wanted to highlight some accessible resources. Along with national resources, there are also apps, helplines, therapists, and online communities you can follow if you’re looking to lose weight or recover from an eating disorder. This list includes Latinas using their platform to promote intuitive eating such as Dalina Soto as well as national apps and resources such as the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). Here are 10 dedicated body positivity resources, meal ideas that celebrate LATAM foods and provide accessible tools for recovery.
Dalina Soto – @Your.Latina.Nutritionist
Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Dalina Soto is dedicated to an anti-diet approach of embracing and elevating our cultural foods. She regularly publishes articles on how to stop chronic dieting and developed the Chula Method, her guide to intuitive eating. “The narrative that thinness and perfect nutrition are the only way to be healthy must die a fiery death,” she once told Us.
Astrid Naranjo – @Anti-Diet_Dietitian
Image: Instagram/@antidiet_dietitian
Astrid Naranjo, Registered Dietitian and Clinical Nutritionist born in Venezuela and working in Australia, regularly shares information about binge eating and very helpful advice on emotional eating. She’s passionate about myths, so she often drops facts on trending topics like low-carb diets. Among his specialties are eating disorders and food freedom – you can learn more about his approach by checking out his episode on the Preventative Medicine podcast.
Diana Mesa – @EnLaMesaNutrition
Image: Instagram/@enlamesanutrition
Diana Mesa is a Registered Dietitian and Specialist in Diabetes Care and Education. Using a non-dietary approach, she addresses insulin resistance, gut health, and stress as it relates to your health and eating habits. Having taught kids, teens and adults how to eat healthy without sacrificing flavor, Mesa is a respected voice on health issues and her Instagram is a great resource to have.
Leda Medina – @Latina.Nutritionista
Image: Instagram/@latina.nutritionista
Anti-diet dietitian Leda Medina helps women embrace their bodies and enjoy LATAM’s cuisine. She believes in health at every size (HAES) and champions body positivity, which are the foundation of her approach. She often shares tips on how to build confidence with your own body and tips on how to set boundaries with your family when it comes to your weight.
Latinx Therapy Network
Image: Instagram/@latinxtherapy
Latinx Therapy Network offers a directory of Latinx therapists whose specialties include eating disorders. They emphasize that mental health and eating disorders go hand in hand and make their resources available to everyone, including podcasts, books, speakers, etc., all affordable and full of additional resources.
Jannie Martinez – @takingupspace_with_jannie
Image: Instagram/@takingupspace_with_jannie
Jannie Martinez specializes in eating disorders and body positivity with a trauma-informed and HAES approach. She shares health tips on self-care, body acceptance, and eating disorder myths. “Misconceptions about eating disorders have real consequences and support options are often inaccessible. As a result, too many people feel helpless, hopeless and scared,” she wrote in an Instagram post for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
Recovery Folder: Eating Disorder Management App
If you’re looking to manage your recovery journey, the Recovery Record app can help with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, to name a few. You can reach your goals – whether they’re related to eating disorders or general weight loss – with a food diary, affirmations, access to a treatment team, and more! You can customize your journey for each stage and type of eating disorder. Download it for free from the Apple App Store.
Rise Up + Recover: an eating disorder monitoring and management tool for anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS app
Rise Up + Recover is an empowering tool that makes your path to recovery easy and achievable. You can record your meals, emotions and behaviors right in your phone and if that’s not enough, you can find support and professional treatment in your area. This app is used by millions of people around the world who struggle with food, diet, exercise, and body image. Download it for free in the App Store
Starla Garcia – @starla_shines
Image: Instagram/@starla_shines
Dietitian and Olympic track marathon runner Starla Garcia was open about battling an eating disorder as a student-athlete while in college. “My competitive nature and the pressure to perform as a runner led me to develop restrictive eating habits, anorexia and excessive exercise. ‘a dietitian that my unhealthy obsession with nutrition was able to begin to cure,” she wrote in her bio on her website. Now she’s on a mission to help others with the same struggles through The Healthy Shine and Fuel for More, a 1:1 nutrition program.
National Eating Disorders Association Helpline
Image: Facebook.com/NationalEatingDisordersAssociation
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to supporting those affected by eating disorders. They offer several resources, including a free screening tool for ages 13 and older as well as information about free and low-cost support, which is crucial for many Latinos who don’t have access to information or to health care. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please call the NEDA Helpline (800) 931-2237.
