Intuitive eating among adolescent girls: differences in body satisfaction and disordered eating attitudes by weight status
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/demetra.2026.87399Keywords:
Intuitive eating. Body satisfaction. Disordered eating attitudes. Girls.Abstract
Introduction: Although international studies link intuitive eating (IE) to health benefits, Brazilian research addressing IE, eating attitudes, and body satisfaction in adolescents remains limited. Objective: To examine differences in IE, body image, and disordered eating behaviours according to body mass index (BMI). Methods: Cross-sectional study with 150 adolescent girls aged 13-19yo. Participants completed the Intuitive Eating Scale-2, which evaluates tendency to follow their physical hunger and satiety signs. Body (dis)satisfaction was assessed with a figure rating scale. Disordered eating was evaluated via the Disordered Eating Attitudes Scale (DEAS) with five subscales, including "normal eating concept" and “relationship with food”. Weight and height were measured for BMI, and z-scores for age/sex to classify girls weight status. Girls were classified as intuitive or non-intuitive eaters. Differences between BMI categories and outcomes were analysed using chi-square and Student’s t-tests. Results: Among non-intuitive eaters, 52% were overweight, none reported body satisfaction, all desired weight reduction. In girls without excess weight, the “normal eating concept” score was lower compared to overweight intuitive eaters (p<0.01). Overweight intuitive eaters scored lower on “relationship with food” compared to those without excess weight (p<0.01). The total DEAS score was higher in non-intuitive girls without excess weight than intuitive eaters (p<0.05). Overweight intuitive eaters also scored lower on the DEAS total scale compared to non-intuitive peers without excess weight (p<0.05). Conclusion: Girls with higher IE scores (≥3) were more satisfied with their bodies and exhibited fewer disordered eating attitudes, regardless of BMI.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Carolina Albuquerque de Gurgel , Maria Aparecida Zanetti Passos , Marle dos Santos Alvarenga, Aline de Piano Ganen , Ana Carolina Barco Leme, Eliana Pereira Vellozo , Adriana Garcia Peloggia Garcia de Castro
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