Social Media and Eating Disorders

Social media is a huge part of our lives today. People share photos and videos, talk to friends, and even do business through an ever-increasing number of platforms. But what if social media was affecting us in ways we didn’t even realize?

Research is increasingly finding that this is, in fact, the case, with social media showing the potential to impact a person’s thoughts, feelings, and mental health — in both positive and negative ways. [1]

But when it comes to eating behaviors and body image, unfortunately, social media has proven a bad influence, with exposure to these sites linked to an increased risk for disordered eating behaviors. [2]

What are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that manifest as a variety of disturbed eating behaviors and distressful thoughts and emotions around the subjects of eating, food, and appearance. They most commonly present as a fixation on body weight, shape, and size, driven by a distorted body image. [3]

Certain personality traits, such as perfectionism, harm avoidance, and stress reactivity, can contribute to the development of these conditions, along with common co-occurring disorders such as depression and anxiety. A history of trauma and cultural and societal factors also often play a role in the development of eating disorders. [3]

The most well-understood types of eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa (AN)
• Bulimia nervosa (BN)
• Binge eating disorder (BED)

But there is also a category called other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED), which accounts for many other types of disordered eating behaviors.

Social Media and Disordered Eating Behaviors

People are spending more time on social media than ever before. And the increased time in cyberspace is increasingly affecting the way people are viewing themselves, their bodies, and their overall lifestyle. [1]

Several studies have shown that exposure to social media content related to appearance and weight can have negative effects on body image and eating behaviors, especially in young adults. [1,4]

Another study found that young people who reported spending more time on Instagram were more likely to experience types of disordered eating, such as orthorexia nervosa or a hyper-fixation on healthy eating. [5]

Part of the issue is the sheer amount of time people are spending on social media platforms, with excessive use linked to increased feelings of loneliness, decreased life satisfaction, and a higher risk for depressive symptoms or low self-esteem. [1] 

All of these factors can contribute to the development or maintenance of eating disorders. But social media can lead to body image concerns and unhelpful eating behaviors in more direct ways.

Promotion of Unrealistic Beauty Standards

The media’s promotion of unrealistic beauty standards has long been thought to have an impact on negative body image and eating behaviors, and the instant and infinite nature of social media has only amplified the problem.

In fact, research has suggested that interacting with social media feeds heavily featuring images of faces and bodies contributed more to negative body image than other social media activities. [6] A similar connection was made between thin-ideal internalization and social media use that focused on appearance. [6]

Constant Comparisons

Social media creates a culture of comparison, where individuals are constantly bombarded by images of other people’s faces, bodies, and lifestyles. This can have detrimental impacts on both physical and mental health.

Studies have found links between social media use, social comparison, and negative self-esteem. In particular, those whose feeds were full of more “fitness”-based content were found to be more likely to participate in extreme weight loss behaviors. [7]

Other reports connected the frequent comparison of oneself to others on social media with a tendency to find oneself less attractive, lower body image satisfaction, and higher instances of eating disorder behaviors. [8]

Misinformation and Harmful Content

Another insidious aspect of social media is how easily it allows untrue or damaging information to be shared. This has been a particular problem when it comes to eating disorders.

Websites of all kinds have been found to be havens for sharing “thinspiration” posts, as well as pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia content. Spreading these ideas can normalize and even encourage disordered eating behaviors, particularly in vulnerable individuals.

Online communities have also been found to create “safe spaces” for people to share restrictive dieting tips, ideas on how to hide disordered eating behavior, and other harmful information, which has made it particularly difficult for parents or healthcare providers to successfully intervene. [9]

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a significant problem on social media, and this can have a detrimental effect on mental health, including the development or exacerbation of eating disorders.

In particular, cyberbullying that involves body image criticism has been found to be on the rise, and this experience has been noted as a contributing factor in a growing number of eating disorder cases. [9]

Cyberbullying can also lead to low self-esteem in general, which is often considered a foundational factor of eating disorders.

How to Limit the Impact of Social Media

Social media has a huge presence in most people’s lives, and even when it has a negative impact, it can feel difficult or even impossible to quit. From business transactions to friendly and familial connections, cutting out social media completely can mean cutting out many parts of our lives.

The good news is there are ways to limit exposure to harmful social media without logging off entirely—and even more ways to make sure that when you are using it, you’re using it in a way that helps rather than hurts your mental health.

Here are some tips for how to do that:

• Be mindful of who you follow: It’s important to be selective about who you follow on social media. If you’re feeling vulnerable, limit your social media exposure to people who are supportive and positive. You can also unfollow anyone who makes you feel bad about yourself or triggers your eating disorder.
• Create a social media schedule: Carving out time specifically for social media use can help you not only limit your time online but optimize the rest of your day. Knowing you have a certain window of time to use these platforms can help you make the most of the experience, leaving you more satisfied and when you sign off and allowing you to concentrate more fully on whatever else needs your attention.
• Set strict limits: If you find yourself spending several hours every day scrolling through the internet or struggling to stay away from social media, you can resort to stricter measures. Most platforms have settings that allow you to limit the amount of time you spend on them. This can be a good way to get started on creating a social media schedule.

You may feel more comfortable limiting your time online if you alert friends and family beforehand. This can help set appropriate expectations around your social media usage and ease the pressure created by these platforms—and cell phones in general—to be constantly on, available, and ready with a response.

How to Find Body-Positive Influences on Social Media

Still, not all social media use is bad. Some studies have found that the quality of content consumed—versus the quantity—can actually make more of an impact on social media users’ mental health, while the increased opportunities for social connection and peer support can provide a positive experience. [4]

As such, savvy social media use may actually be able to help counter the negative effects the platforms can create. And finding accounts that focus on body positivity is a great place to start.

However, with so many accounts and influencers out there, it can feel overwhelming to separate the truly happy and helpful accounts from those that are subliminally sending out the wrong message. Here are some tips on how to find body-positive influences on social media:

Use Hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to discover new accounts and content. Some popular hashtags for body positivity include #bodypositivity, #bodypositive, #selflove, #yourbeautystandards, and #bodyacceptance. You can search for these hashtags to find accounts and posts that align with your values.

Look for Diverse Representation

One of the key tenets of body positivity is inclusivity, so look for accounts that feature a diverse range of body types, skin colors, and abilities. Seeing a variety of bodies can also help expand your perspective on what is considered beautiful and help you feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin.

Follow Activists and Thought Leaders

There are many activists and thought leaders who are doing important work to promote body positivity and challenge harmful beauty standards. These individuals often share insightful and inspiring content on their social media accounts.

Seek out Local Communities

If you’re interested in connecting with body-positive individuals in your area, try searching for local social media accounts or hashtags. You might be surprised at how many people in your community are also interested in body positivity and self-love. You could also try attending local events or meetups focused on body positivity.

Don’t be Afraid to Curate your Feed

Remember, you have control over what content you see on social media. If you find that certain accounts or posts are triggering or making you feel bad about yourself, there’s no reason not to unfollow or mute them. It’s important to prioritize your mental health and well-being, and that includes curating a social media feed that makes you feel good about yourself.

Reducing the Influence of Social Media

Overall, finding body-positive influences on social media is all about using the right tools and following the right accounts. By seeking out diverse representation, following activists and thought leaders, and curating your feed, you can create a social media experience that promotes self-love and positivity.

When coupled with a greater awareness of the potential pitfalls of social media and a proactive effort to limit your time on these platforms, the overall effect can be greater freedom from the potentially negative influence of these sites.

If social media is affecting your mental well-being or how you perceive yourself, remember that help is available. Social media addiction may feel too powerful to overcome, but you can always take control of your thoughts and feelings.

Resources

1. Zsila A, Reyes M. (2023). Pros & cons: impacts of social media on mental health. BMC Psychology; 11:201.
2. Zhang J, Wang Y, Li Q, Wu C. (2021). The Relationship Between SNS Usage and Disordered Eating Behaviors: A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology; 12. 
3. Rikani AA, Choudhry Z, Choudhry AM, Ikram H, Asghar MW, Kajal D, Waheed A, & Mobassarah NJ. (2013). A critique of the literature on etiology of eating disorders. Annals of Neurosciences; 20(4):157–161.
4. Sidani JE, Shensa A, Hoffman B, Hanmer J, & Primack BA. (2016). The Association between Social Media Use and Eating Concerns among US Young Adults. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; 116(9):1465–1472.
5. Turner PG, & Lefevre CE. (2017). Instagram use is linked to increased symptoms of orthorexia nervosa. Eating and Weight Disorders; 22(2):277–284.
6. de Valle M, Gallego-Garcia M, Williamson P, Wade T. (2021). Social media, body image, and the question of causation: Meta-analyses of experimental and longitudinal evidence. Body Image; 39:276-292.
7. Lewallen J, Behm-Morawitz E. (2016). Pinterest or Thinterest?: Social Comparison and Body Image on Social Media. Social Media + Society; 2(1).
8. Cataldo I, Lepri B, Yee Neoh M, Esposito G. (2021). Social Media Usage and Development of Psychiatric Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence: A Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry; 11.
9. de Diego Díaz Plaza M, Novalbos Ruiz JP, Rodríguez Martín A, Santi Cano MJ, Belmonte Cortés S. (2022). Social media and cyberbullying in eating disorders. Nutricion Hospitalaria 39(2).

Published on EatingDisorderHope.com on March 27, 2024