A new study from the University of Pittsburgh published this week in the journal Pediatrics suggests that girls with body image issues are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior:

Sexual risk behaviors may be more common among girls who are underweight or perceive themselves (accurately or not) to be overweight and vary by racial/ethnic group. This suggests that girls at weight extremes and those from different racial backgrounds may have unique sexual health education and prevention needs.

The results of the study, which was based on a 2005 survey of high school girls, suggests that girls who perceive themselves to be overweight are more likely to have sex without a condom or to have had sex before they are 13-- whether they are actually overweight or not. 

(via ScienceBlog)