The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between adolescents with a high or low risk of developing an eating disorder (ED) in different health behaviors (eating habits, physical activity and the consumption of substances) per gender. The EAT-40 and the Inventory of Behavioral Health in Scholars were applied to 2142 middle school students from Alicante (Spain), of whom 52.8% were girls and 47.2% were boys, with an average age of 13.92 years old (Sd = 1.34). Results indicated that girls with a high risk of developing an ED consumed fewer meals, ate fewer unhealthy foods, followed more diets and paid more attention to nutritional components. Furthermore, they also performed more physical activity with the objective of losing weight, and consumed more tobacco, alcohol and medicines. Boys at high risk of developing an ED followed more diets and paid more attention to nutritional components. For boys, no more differences were found. These results suggest that any program directed at the prevention of ED should not only include nutritional education, but should also seek to promote regular physical activity with objectives other than weight loss or the burning of calories.

<p><strong>Español</strong></p><p>El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el efecto de intervenciones de Psicología positiva y de ejercicio físico sobre indicadores de bienestar y malestar psicológico en estudiantes universitarios costarricenses. Se realizó una investigación cuasiexperimental, de diseño factorial (4 x 2) con mediciones pre y post, en el que 233 estudiantes universitarios (18.97 ± 2.18 años, 135 mujeres, 98 hombres) se vieron expuestos a una de cuatro diferentes condiciones: intervenciones de psicología positiva (PP), intervenciones de ejercicio físico (E), intervenciones combinadas de PP y E y control (C). Se midieron indicadores de bienestar y malestar psicológico. Las intervenciones de Psicología positiva mejoraron el indicador de malestar psicológico “emociones negativas” (p = .022), pero no impactaron significativamente los indicadores de bienestar psicológico (p &gt; .05). La combinación las intervenciones de PP y E generó los mismos efectos que cuando únicamente se utilizan las estrategias derivadas de la psicología positiva, esto es, se presentó una reducción significativa en el indicador “emociones negativas” (p = .028). Dicho efecto puede contribuir a la mejora de la vivencia de la vida universitaria y proteger a los estudiantes de los riesgos asociados con experiencias de malestar psicológico en diversas esferas de su vida. Las intervenciones de ejercicio por sí mismas no modificaron de manera significativa los indicadores de bienestar ni malestar psicológico (p &gt; .05).</p><p><strong>English</strong></p><p>The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of positive psychology and exercise interventions on psychological well-being and ill-being indicators in Costa Rican college students. This study had a quasi-experimental factorial (4 x 2) design, 233 college students (18.97 ± 2.18 years, 135 females, 98 males) were assigned to one of four different conditions: positive psychological interventions (PP), exercise interventions (E), combined (PP + E) interventions, and control group (C). Psychological well-being and ill-being indicators were measured pre and post interventions. Positive psychological interventions improved the “negative emotions” indicator (p = .022); but did not have a significant impact on well-being indicators (p &gt; .05). The combination of PP and E interventions produced the same effects as PP alone; a decrease in “negative emotions” was observed (p = .028). This effect might contribute to improve the experience of university life for higher education students and protect them from the risks associated with psychological ill-being. Exercise interventions alone did not change either the psychological well-being or ill-being indicators (p &gt; .05).</p>