Influencia de los pares en la imagen corporal y problemas de la conducta alimentaria: anorexia y bulimia en adolescentes.

Abstract

Mental health issues related to eating disorders become apparent during adolescence due to profound biological, psychological, and social changes, resulting in greater vulnerability regarding body image. Peer pressure becomes a key factor, as adolescents use these interactions to build their identities, shape their perceptions of their bodies, foster a sense of belonging within their peer group, and seek acceptance by conforming to socially constructed beauty standards, which may lead to a negative body image. Research has shown that these disorders in adolescence are primarily related to anorexia and bulimia, which have physical, emotional, and social consequences. This study aimed to analyze the influence of peers on body image and its relationship with the presence of eating disorders in adolescents. A descriptive literature review was conducted, and its findings were synthesized through thematic narrative synthesis, organizing the scientific evidence into related conceptual categories. The search terms “adolescence,” “body image,” “peer influence,” “body dissatisfaction,” “anorexia,” and “bulimia” were used, along with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Publications from 2021 to 2025 in Spanish and English were considered. Finally, it was found that adolescents’ body image is directly influenced by their peers, as they are vulnerable to social pressure, social comparison, and body-related teasing; these factors contribute to a negative body image, fostering body dissatisfaction and triggering disordered eating behaviors.