Introduccion: los Trastornos del Comportamiento Alimentario (TCA) se caracterizan por la exagerada preocupacion por la apariencia fisica. Tienen elevada incidencia en las poblaciones jovenes y mas frecuentes en mujeres que en varones. Objetivo: identificar los factores de riesgo para TCA. Metodologia: revision tematica de publicaciones que describen y evaluan los diferen­tes factores de riesgo para desarrollar TCA. Se realizo busqueda electronica desde 1984 a 2011, en ingles y espanol, incluyendo todas las modalidades de publicaciones. Se re­visaron los resumenes para detectar los articulos completos que trataran sobre factores de riesgo asociados al desarrollo de los TCA. Resultados: se encontraron 48203 articulos sobre TCA. 96 trataban especificamente sobre factores de riesgo. Se lograron obtener 35 (36.4%) articulos completos y en ellos se realizo la revision. Conclusion: los principales factores de riesgo son: ser mujer, adolescente, tener per­cepcion distorsionada de la imagen corporal y el uso de dietas para adelgazar. Rev. cienc.biomed. 2012;3(2):300-305 PALABRAS CLAVES Trastornos de la conducta alimentaria; Bulimia nerviosa; Anorexia nerviosa. SUMMARY Introduction: eating disorders (ED) are characterized by the excessive worry about physical appearance. They have high incidence in young population with more frequen­cy in women than in men. Objective: to identify the risk factors for ED. Methods: thematic review of publications in which are described and evaluated the different risk factors to develop ED. It was done an electronic search since 1984 to 2011, in english and spanish, in which were included all the methods of publications. There were reviewed the summaries to find the complete articles that treated about risk factors associate with the development of the ED. Results: there were found 48203 about ED. 96 tried specifically about risk factors. 35 (36.4%) complete articles were obtained and the review was done with them. Conclusion: principal risk factors are: To be an adolescent, woman, to have distorted perception of the corporal image and the use of diet to lose weight. Rev.cienc.bio­med. 2012;3(2):300-305 KEYWORD Eating disorders; Bulimia nervosa; Anorexia nervosa.