Exploring Intuitive Eating in the Adolescent Population

Intuitive eating is an adaptive eating style that promotes a healthy relationship with food rather than disordered eating behaviors. Intuitive eating has been linked to positive outcomes in adulthood, including less disordered eating, greater emotional functioning, and positive body image, among others. Adolescence is a time period when this healthy relationship with food can be developed through intuitive eating behaviors, and these behaviors can be carried into adulthood. Adolescence is also a time identified as a risk period for the development of eating pathology and clinical eating disorders. The purpose of this paper was to explore intuitive eating among the adolescent population, including a look at disordered eating, predictors and impacts of intuitive eating, and successful interventions teaching intuitive eating. Many predictors are identified that may increase intuitive eating behaviors among adolescents along with the positive impacts of these intuitive eating behaviors. A focus should be put on creating interventions that teach intuitive eating behaviors to adolescents to increase intuitive eating behaviors in this population. The impact of intuitive eating and predictors should be taken into account by all who interact with adolescents.Master of Public Healt