Spain sees surge in diet‑linked health disorders

Spanish health experts warn that consumption of ultra‑processed foods is driving a notable rise in digestive diseases. They cite increased cases of obesity, diabetes, anxiety and depression linked to poor diets and stress the importance of a balanced, fibre‑rich diet, adequate hydration and professional medical advice.

At the same time, doctors report that new forms of eating‑disorder behaviours—such as orthorexia, permarexia, alcoorexia and diabulimia—are now more prevalent than classic anorexia and bulimia. These conditions often go unnoticed because they do not involve extreme thinness, and they are associated with pandemic‑related stress and heavy social‑media exposure. Specialists stress that these hidden disorders can cause severe physical and mental health consequences.