José Francisco López Gil, research professor at the Universidad Espíritu Santo, was awarded first place in the XXV Edition of the Research Awards of the Albacete Integrated Care Management (GAI) in Spain. His study, entitled “Global proportion of disordered eating in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis”.”, received recognition for the best clinical or translational research work, after being evaluated by the GAI Research Commission, as part of a call that brings together the most outstanding professionals in the region of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain).
The work of López Gil, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis, provides a global overview of the prevalence of eating disorders in children and adolescents. One in five children and adolescents are at risk for eating disorders (ED), and this proportion is twice as high in girls as in boys. This research makes visible a growing public health problem and proposes solid bases for the design of preventive and intervention strategies, both in clinical and educational settings. The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics, The journal is the world's most prestigious scientific journal in the field of Pediatrics, which underscores its high level of scientific quality and international relevance.
In addition to the academic recognition, this work has had a remarkable impact on a global scale. Its content caught the attention of some of the world's most influential media outlets, among them CNN (United States), DailyMail (United Kingdom) and El País (Spain), demonstrating its reach beyond the academic environment. This broad media coverage contributes to raising awareness of ED and reinforces the role of research as a transformative tool in public health.
López Gil has built an outstanding scientific career that combines high-impact academic production and a strong commitment to the health of younger populations. This new international recognition adds to his continuous contribution to the advancement of knowledge, consolidating his reputation as one of the Latin American researchers with the greatest projection in his field. UEES congratulates him for this important achievement and for continuing to inspire new generations of professionals and researchers.
