There is no doubt that the majority of people nowadays have some form of social media that they scroll through daily. Whether it be Instagram or TikTok, we all get consumed by the content that people put out. The reality is that viewers have unlimited access, and some of the content that they are exposed to can do more harm than good.
Our society is very focused on new and upcoming fitness trends or the next best diet and now with social media at everyone’s fingertips, it seems that this is the most popular content that people are seeking out. While some of it may promote a healthy relationship with food and the body, a lot of it promotes unrealistic changes and unhealthy habits.
Because social media thrives off of visuals and high-tech editing capabilities, this can easily promote expectations around body image and what it means to be attractive or accepted in our world today. Unfortunately, most of it is fabricated, yet believed by its viewers. With the frequency we are exposed to this type of content, some may start to experience pressure to conform to these standards, fostering a negative view of their body and self-worth. When it comes to eating disorders, this can lead to the development or exacerbation of one.
Studies have shown that people who spend a significant amount of time on social media are more likely to compare their bodies and what they eat to those they see on the screen. This leads them to engage in unhealthy habits around food and exercise in order to try and achieve the “perfect” body. Unfortunately, we have seen a rise in these types of trends and beliefs amongst the younger generations due to them still being impressionable and vulnerable while still trying to form their own self-worth and identity.
There are several influencers today who are viewed as idols and icons in the health and fitness industry. Oftentimes, they themselves have disordered habits that they are now portraying to the world as “the way to get skinny” or “how to be accepted.” The things they promote on their pages can be detrimental to their audience, especially if they are encouraging disordered eating or unhealthy expectations around exercise routines. These ideas they put out can manifest in different forms of eating disorders such as orthorexia or anorexia, binge eating disorder, and many others due to inexperience and lack of knowledge about true health. They also can promote compulsive and obsessive behaviors around food and exercise that one believes is how they achieve their perfect body.
While social media shows a lot of its negative effects on diet, exercise, and body image, we are starting to see more people promote a healthy and balanced relationship with food and their own bodies in an attempt to combat the negativity that is so popular. While pro-eating disorder sites still exist and promote eating disorders and frame them in a positive light, we are seeing more and more communities popping up sharing recovery stories and motivation to help people suffering from eating disorders find hope and reasons to recover.
Social media doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, but the hope is that we start getting more and more people to speak the truth about eating disorders and the harm they cause instead of promoting it as a way to be accepted and get your ideal body. Social media can be used as a force for good if we prioritize spreading awareness, lessening the stigma, and supporting those who are struggling to seek help. There is no way to eliminate all of the misinformation and promotion of unhealthy habits, but we can certainly try and combat it by speaking up and speaking out about the truth and dangers of eating disorders and how social media can impact those currently struggling or heading down the wrong path.
~Taylor Greibe, Eating Disorder Recovery Coach
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