Journal of Health Psychology 2015, Vol. 20(2) 154–163 © The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1359105313500683 hpq.sagepub.com Introduction Many adolescents, particularly girls, are involved in unhealthy eating and weight control behaviors (restricted intake, laxatives, diuretics or diet pills, and induced vomiting) due to social emphasis on appearance, image, and physical attractiveness (Thøgersen-Ntoumani et al., 2010). The high prevalence of these behaviors may constitute a serious health problem, due to their adverse effects on the physical, emotional, and psychosocial health of young people (Maor et al., 2006; Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2002). According to various studies, this type of behav- ior may lead to nutritional deficiencies, eating disorders (EDs), obesity, depression, and suicide attempts (Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2004; Stice et al., 1999). Over recent years, many studies on EDs have focused on assessing the nature and cor- relates of EDs. One of the factors that appears time and time again in studies with adolescents suffering from EDs is a high level of dissatis- faction with their body image because of the internalization of the thin ideal. Indeed, body dissatisfaction, the drive for thinness, and a distorted perception of one’s weight are factors Risky eating behaviors and beliefs among adolescent girls Soledad Cruz-Sáez, Aitziber Pascual, Karmele Salaberria, Itziar Etxebarria and Enrique Echeburúa Abstract This study investigated the prevalence of weight control and binge eating behaviors in a sample of 767 adolescent girls aged 16–20 years, and the differences between adolescents with and without altered eating behaviors regarding anthropometric and body image variables and beliefs associated with eating disorders. Adolescents who engaged in unhealthy strategies were found to be at a higher risk of eating disorders, since these behaviors were accompanied by higher levels of drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction, as well as by beliefs associated with the importance of weight and body shape as a means of personal and social acceptance. Keywords adolescence, beliefs, binge eating, diet, eating disorders University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain Corresponding author: Soledad Cruz-Sáez, University of the Basque Country, (UPV/EHU), Avenida de Tolosa, 70, San Sebastián, 20018, Spain. Email: mariasoledad.cruz@ehu.es 500683HPQ 0 0 10.1177/1359105313500683Journal of Health PsychologyCruz-Sáez et al. 13 Article by Soledad Cruz on January 30, 2015 hpq.sagepub.com Downloaded from