Factors influencing unhealthy eating behaviour in US adolescents

This research explores the simultaneous effects of key variables on unhealthy eating behaviour. Specifically, this study focuses on the relative effects of advertising, parental and peer influence, and self‐efficacy on the unhealthy eating behaviour of US adolescents. The results suggest that: (1) parental influence, peer influence and self‐efficacy significantly predict unhealthy eating behaviour; (2) self‐efficacy is the strongest predictor of unhealthy eating behaviour; and (3) advertising effects are largely neutralized by parental influence, peer influence and self‐efficacy.