Experiential avoidance and risky eating behaviors

Abstract

Introduction:There are precedents that have revealed higher levels of experiential avoidance in people with eating disorders (ED). However, previous studies have focused on the relationship between experiential avoidance and altered eating behaviors, without studying the possible relationship of other behaviors such as dieting, physical exercise, or taking medications. Materials and methods:The objective was to verify the relationship between ed risk behaviors and experiential avoidance, with special emphasis on the differentiated relationship between restrictive behaviors (dieting and physical exercise), binge-purge and drug use. The Brief questionnaire of risky eating Behaviors (BQEEB) and the AAQ-II questionnaire (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire) to assess experiential avoidance in 315 university students. Results: In the results, it was observed that the group formed by participants at risk of eating disorders showed a significantly higher score, with an effect size between low and medium, in the AAQ-II compared to the control group. On the other hand, a low and positive correlation was observed between the scores of the BQREB total score, as well as in the restriction and Binge- purging factors (with the total score of the AAQ-II scale. However, no correlation was found with
the factor Compensatory measures. Discussion:The results support the use of contextual therapies for eating disorders.