Abstract:
This paper examines the ubiquitous impact of social media on youth by analysing the ways in which it exerts influence over perceived body image and eating habits. It highlights how the popularity of health and diet trends are supported and disseminated through social media influencers, which often encourage restrictive eating practices and idealised body standards. This article further explores how misinformation and lack of transparency contribute to this growing problem. Furthermore, it covers educational knowledge and coping mechanisms as possible remedies for the implications caused by such social media content.
In the modern digital age, social media has evolved into a pervasive entity that particularly influences the younger demographic. In 2020, social media platforms were accessible to almost half of the world’s population. According to recent figures, a substantial ninety-one per cent of teenagers actively use social media, and more than half of them check their accounts at least once every hour, every day (Dane & Bhatia, 2023; Tangkovska, 2021). Concurrently, adolescent reliance on social media, and the interconnected nature of platforms like Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok has accelerated the dissemination of online trends. Amid the bombardment of content, diet and wellness trends endorsed by social media influencers have garnered significant attention (Eaton et al., 2023; Pfender et al., 2023). The promotion of restrictive eating practices and idealised body ideals by these influencers, who frequently portray themselves as wellness gurus, might negatively impact the impressionable minds of their audience. This is of particular concern when the unregulated nature of the internet is also considered (Dane & Bhatia, 2023). Given this context, adolescents have a heightened susceptibility to experiencing body dissatisfaction and consequently adopting disordered eating habits. This paper argues that influencer led diet trend content on social media platforms contributes to body image issues and disordered eating among young people. In the seventh section of this paper, possible coping strategies and educational awareness in relation to the challenges at present for audiences and content creators alike will be discussed.
Due to the widespread impact of social media influencers on consumer behaviours, attitudes, and perceptions, it is imperative to critically analyse how these individuals initiate societal norms and trends surrounding food and diet. Online influencers frequently work with brands to offer goods and services to their large audiences through product placements, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content (Pfender et al., 2023). These large followings are often accumulated by publishing lifestyle related content that is intimate in nature to appeal to and engage with the everyday social media user. Therefore, health and diet related content has become widespread because of its universal appeal to the masses. Additionally, food is a common topic on social media because it is more than a mere sustenance for people’s bodies; it has political and cultural implication that make it a topic for discussion, analysis, debate, and creative investigation. It is also strongly associated with both individual and group identities (Pfender et al., 2023). Keto, juice cleanses, paleo, and tea detoxes are just some examples of trending diet content online (Birch, 2019). A more pervasive trend that has emerged from this demand are What I Eat In A Day videos, which have accumulated an estimated sixteen billion views on TikTok as of April 2023 (Pfender et al., 2023). This diet trend consists of short video narratives that depict the creator’s food consumption over the course of a twenty-four-hour period. Some of these videos solely show images of food, while others have voiceovers or written descriptions that elaborate on details like protein amounts, portion sizes, and calorie counts. (McMaster University, 2023; Topham & Smith, 2023). Although some research suggests these types of diet trends can positively effect users by providing meal inspiration, the adverse effects outweigh any potential benefits.
Health and diet trends, particularly What I Eat In A Day videos, often propagate misinformation. This is largely because most of the creators responsible for such content do not have credentials in healthcare, fitness, or nutrition (Marinescu & Rodat, 2021; Topham & Smith, 2023). This lack of legitimate qualification often goes overlooked when presented in a one size fits all way to a young, impressionable audience who harbour a common belief that adopting the diets of influencers will yield identical results in their own bodies (Eaton et al., 2023; Pfender et al., 2023; McMaster University, 2023; Topham & Smith, 2023). Another factor that contributes to the spread and consumption of inaccurate diet advice online is the unregulated nature of the internet, because anyone can post to social media without supervision (Dane & Bhatia, 2023). Although some influencers without professional knowledge may produce such content based on personal experience with the intent to inform and inspire, there can be more insidious motives at play. MacMaster University (2023) suggests young audiences should view these videos through a critical lens as it is possible not all the food consumed in a day has been included in the video. Additionally, it is easy for the viewer to forget there are other days of eating the creator has decided not to document. Furthermore, the creator may be sponsored or paid to advertise a particular health product or meal service (McMaster University, 2023). Consequently, misinformation and lack of transparency in these videos leads to an unrealistic expectation of a well-balanced diet and body image. This becomes particularly detrimental when most health influencers fit the generalised beauty ideal of being white, thin, fit, and able bodied (Chua et al., 2023; Pfender et al., 2023; Topham & Smith, 2023). The widespread disseminations of false information, lack of openness surrounding nutrition and health trends and objectives of influences establishes conditions conductive to the emergence of body dissatisfaction in adolescents.
Frequent exposure to health and diet related content on social media, promoted by influencers curated narratives, can instil a sense of inadequacy and dissatisfaction toward a young individual’s own body. Body image refers to an individual’s perception of their own physical attributes–such as size, form and overall attractiveness–aswell as their associated feelings, thoughts, and attitudes (Grogan, 2021; Holland & Tiggemann, 2016). Social media exerts a substantial impact on body image, as it frequently reinforces unattainable beauty ideals and encourages users to compare themselves, resulting in increased body dissatisfaction and unfavourable self-perception (Dane & Bhatia, 2023). These problems can take many different forms, such as low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, obsessive thoughts about perceived flaws or imperfections, and a skewed view of one’s own body in comparison to social norms or expectations. Dane and Bhatia (2023) suggest extensive research has identified elements that contribute to the spread of unrealistic body ideals and exacerbate people’s discontent with their bodies, such as the ubiquitous presence of personalised ‘for you page’ algorithms and the proliferation of weight reduction trends that emphasise extreme athleticism or thinness. Evidence of body dissatisfaction can also be seen in the growing popularity of appearance related cosmetic surgeries and procedures. Chua et al. (2023) and Vries et al. (2014) suggest cosmetic procedures are a part of weight control behaviour that is learnt from social media promotions of ideal body types and social comparison. Therefore, it is not surprising to find young people of all genders have comparable degrees of favourability towards cosmetic surgery given the sociocultural effects around physical appearance (Chua, et al., 2023). In more extreme cases, unhealthy standards and body image issues can lead to unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders..
Body dissatisfaction is not only a precursor but also a catalyst for the development of eating disorders, profoundly influencing young individuals’ perceptions of their bodies and leading to detrimental health consequences. Young people are becoming more and more likely to experience eating disorder pathology and body image dissatisfaction; among Australian youth, body image is ranked as one of the top three concerns (Dane & Bhatia, 2023). This can be closely linked to health and diet content disseminated on social media. Eating disorders encompass a broad spectrum of debilitating and sometimes lethal mental illnesses, each with a range of associated health complications. (Dane & Bhatia, 2023). These include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. A modern medical illness, orthorexia nervosa, presents as an eating disorder characterised by an obsessive compulsion with eating meals that appear to be healthy. Contrary to popular belief, this fixation leads to negative consequences such as social disconnection, reduced participation in other health-promoting activities, poor intuitive eating, increased anxiety, compulsive behaviours, and, in extreme cases, starvation and death (Birch, 2019; Marinescu & Rodat, 2021). According to Birch (2019) scholars propose that orthorexia is particularly dangerous as it is often masqueraded as a pursuit of good health, a notion frequently learnt from online content centred around clean eating. Sometimes this eating disorder begins as a seemingly harmless endeavour to eat better, but later spirals into a means of control and unhealthy diet restrictions such as the cutting out of carbohydrates, sugar, and meat. After time, such lack of dietary balance can lead to insufficient nutrition (Marinescu & Rodat, 2021). Unbalanced food consumption habits and eating disorders can have devastating implications on an individual’s mental and physical health, therefore efforts to educate and inform are imperative.
While online diet, health and wellness content and trends are widespread, there are mechanism available to help discern beneficial content from unhealthy information that contributes to body image issues and eating disorders. It is important to first look at the role of influencers, as they have the power to shape behaviours and attitudes (Pfender et al., 2023). Topham and Smith (2023) suggest social media influencers can use certain language in their diet related content to clearly indicate it as a health experience, rather than health advice. For example, mentioning that ‘this is what works for me, but it might not be for everyone’ reminds the audience that a one size fits all approach to health and wellbeing is unrealistic. Additionally, from a follower perspective, it is paramount to remain sceptical and not take health and wellness advice at face value (McMaster University, 2023). Social media influencers often accumulate large followings and generate income by capitalising on views with sponsorships and brand deals (Pfender et al., 2023). With this information considered, young social media users will be better equipped to identify where financial motives are at play, thereby enabling the discernment of diet related misinformation.
In light of these concerns, it is evident the proliferation of diet related content by social media influencers warrants closer scrutiny. The effect of social media, particularly through influencers and content creators promoting diet and wellness trends, has profoundly impacted the perceptions and behaviours of young people, leading to increased body dissatisfaction and the adoption of disordered eating habits. The widespread and unregulated reach of social media influencers has created a platform where trends related to health and diet, such as What I Eat In A Day videos, are propagated without adequate professional qualifications, leading to the dissemination of misinformation and unrealistic expectations among easily persuadable audiences. Consequently, teenagers and young adults may experience a sense of inadequacy and dissatisfaction with their bodies, contributing to the prevalence of eating disorders and related health complications. The clean eating and health and wellness movement online has given rise to orthorexia nervosa as an eating disorder that frequently blends in with less sinister clean eating attitudes. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, further research is necessary to adapt to the ever-changing nature of the health, wellness and diet space. Furthermore, it is crucial to critically examine the impact of social media on body image and eating behaviours, and to promote awareness and education to mitigate the harmful effects of misinformation and unrealistic standards perpetuated online.
References
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