Question 1
The study highlighted several reasons for the linear association between media use and eating concerns. One possible explanation was increased media use increases possible exposure to images and messages that may increase the risk for developing eating concerns. Another explanation was that photo based media (Pinterest, Snapchat, etc.) may increase exposure to visuals that promote the thin ideal. Do you agree with these possible explanations or do you feel there are other reasons for the association between media use and eating concerns?
posted by Kandice Abramson @ 1:25 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
It seems like the increased social media usage increases overall exposure to messages and images that promote a thin ideal and eating concerns. I think that these increased eating concerns associated with increased social media use may be the result of images on public accounts, but may also be strongly linked to the posts of people within individuals’ social circles. It is one thing if a young adult sees images and messages from a celebrity or popular social media user and develops a distorted sense of body image or altered relationship with food. It is another to be consistently exposed to personal social media posts of people you are friends with or see in-person frequently—it is easy to compare bodies with people you see in-person and on social media. I think that young adults may be influenced significantly by the posts of their friends because of the personal connection.
In addition to being influenced by photos of “ideal” bodies, young adults may be influenced by social media posts about food, weight loss tips, and fitness. On Pinterest in particular, it is easy to find recipes and posts about “eating skinny” or “flat belly foods.” While many of these recipes may actually be for healthy, nutritious foods, the way they are labeled and portrayed may cause eating concerns in the people viewing the social media posts. The combination of the images, messages, and language use on various social media platforms clearly have the potential to push young adults into disordered eating behaviors or attitudes.
I believe social media contributes to disordered eating. There are many outlets on social media that can expose someone to the subject of dieting or body image. It can be a friend, a celebrity, or an ad on the side of the screen. It seems that dieting and body image is almost everywhere on social media now. I believe this is becoming a bigger concern because children are gaining access to social media at earlier and earlier ages. Children and teenagers are now being exposed to dieting and the “ideal body image” when they’re in their stages of development, and I believe it may be why we are seeing increase of eating concerns in the younger ages. They then grow up with these ideas and standards they believe they should achieve that they see on social media. The study looked at adults aged 18-30 years old, but I would be curious as to what the results would be for a younger population.
Kirsten, I like how you pointed out there are often things on social media that are healthy, but it’s the way they are advertised or portrayed. Healthy fats are often associated with “flat belly foods”, but describing them in that way is promoting it for the ideal body image, not overall health.
I agree, social media plays a huge role in eating disorders, and can be triggered from multiple ways. Specifically with Facebook, scrolling through an endless newsfeed with pictures of your friends’ lives, where pictures are posted from bikini beach days (with the ideal bikini body), or nights out, they are looking their best. Pictures are often edited/cropped which show no flaws in one’s face/body, and that can tear down one’s self esteem and possibly lead to depression and/or disordered eating. With close friends, it may be easier to see past the perfect pictures, because you know about their lives compared to mere acquaintances. On the other side, one may post pictures of themselves and see how many likes they get. Even receiving few likes can tear a person down, and make them feel less than they are.
Tessa, you are right about how body image is everywhere, specifically with ads on social media. If one looks at a dieting site or blog about healthy eating, ads will most likely pop up on Facebook or whatever social media just from previous searches on one’s device. To go along with that, kids that use their parents computer/laptop for the internet may be exposed to all of the ads as well, as they are shown based on previous searches that parents make.
I've read several articles about the implications of constant use of social media in relation to mental health, and I think eating disorders is no different. Social media, especially photo-based social media, creates an environment where one is constantly comparing oneself to others which can have detrimental effects. When I was peer-counseling students at UNH with eating concerns, this idea of comparing oneself to others was people's most significant struggle. They knew it was silly to constantly compare themselves to others, but they could not stop. Social media is a platform that fosters constant comparison that can lead to negative self talk and ultimately lower self confidence and respect which can manifest itself in the form of eating concerns. As RDs, I think we need to challenge people to see beyond the pictures they see in social media, and teach individuals to focus on their health.
While social media use might play a role in eating disorders and disordered eating, it cannot be the only factor. Eating disorders are much older than social media and must have other root components. RDs, I think we need to challenge people to see beyond the pictures they see in social media, and teach individuals to focus on their health.
Tessa, I agree that it would be useful to learn about this topic in a younger population. Specifically, the adolescent population's trends in eating concerns versus social media usage. That may be where many eating disorders take root, so it would be important to learn about and understand.
I definitely agree with the associations made in the article. It is logical that the higher amounts of time spent on social media seem to correlate with an increased exposure to "thin ideal" messages. With many individuals using image-based social media (such as Instagram) as a source of "inspiration" and motivation for fitness and weight loss, it can become disheartening to see manipulated (or well-posed) photos that set unrealistic standards. There is a fine line between motivation and the vicious cycle of comparing oneself to unattainable standards. As they mentioned in the article, body dissatisfaction and altered body image perceptions can stem from the comparison to images found on these social media sites, and these statistics widely go unreported.
I agree with Kirsten and Tessa in regards to the negative portrayal of foods on social media. Many individuals, particularly young adults, are looking for "right/wrong" or "good/bad" foods that align with the misperception of healthfulness and good nutrition. While we know that any food can be good in moderate amounts, this answer tends to not sit well the layperson population. I feel that once people tend to categorize foods as good/bad, it can be hard to change their minds on the subject--especially as new research is found that changes recommendations and increases knowledge on the subject (eg. eggs). I think the social media can be used to promote positive, credible information. It is up to us, as nutrition professionals, to use our own social media platforms to share accurate information and dispel food myths.
Tessa, I agree with your comments about how early connections via social media in children can promote disordered eating and altered body image. Children are highly impressionable and lifelong habits take root in childhood, which is why social media use may be harmful to children.
Nikki, you touched on a few points that I was getting at in my answer to the question. The constant exposure to posts by friends or acquaintances and pursuit of "likes" can impact body image and eating behaviors.
Holly, I agree that there is a fine line between using social media images as motivation vs harmful, unrealistic comparisons. Pictures of others that look a desired way can serve as a motivator for change in eating habits, fitness habits, etc, but can quickly slide into frustrating comparisons. This is what makes navigating social media in terms of disordered eating risk so difficult.
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I definitely agree with the "false ideal" that graphic medias, such as Pinterest, can promote. Similar to magazines, these image-heavy social networking sites contain endless advertisements for diet plans, fat-burning workouts, and general cosmetic products with models displaying the "ideal" body. In fact, there appears to be no way to log onto any social media without seeing such images. Thus, this creates a comparative environment. However, I also believe the same can be stated about general social media sites such as facebook or instagram. I believe social media sites are a way individuals can post their life as a "false ideal." With false ideals being all around, one would continue to view others in a comparative nature which may trigger eating concerns.
Justine, I like your contest to the article in that eating disorders predate modern media. One of many factors for eating disorders is a sense of control over an individuals life, or directly food. Social media, with the edited showcase described in the article, may contribute to this control. Individuals may control how other see them, what they see through personal media feeds. These types of selective information gathering may reinforce the inaccurate body images and self views characterized in some eating disorders. Even as we are in the information age, social media with filter use may limit the wider view of an individual, creating forced negative perspective as seen in depression.
Additionally, in the old adage 'don't deliver bad news in print' (so as to not allow the receiver to reread and relive/rehash the moment forever), social media creates an avenue in which photos posts, and the triumphs of peers or embarrassments of self may live on forever. A rude comment of a peer not only lives on in memory, but on your media comments. Constant reminders of negative influence will hamper personal growth and health.
I think that media does influence body image and can cause someone to be more concerned about their weight. However, I don't think that the media is the only factor that causes eating disorders. I do however, think that the media is the one factor that gets the most attention. However, there are other factors that lead to eating disorders. Even before media eating disorders were still a concern. Perhaps they were less heard about because the lack of technology. To answer you question yes I think many different forms of media do have a major influence on body image. Yet there are other reasons eating disorders develop.
Tessa-I agree with what you said that children are exposed to diets and concerns about diet at such a young age. I actually was having this conversations with my preceptor the other day. Although the school lunch program is a great program it does restrict many things for children and gets them into the habit of restricting things from their diet. Also many parents are concerned with child weight and restrict "unhealthy" items from their child's diet. I think that eating disorders can stem from many things including environment. I also think it would be very interesting to conduct the same study in a younger age.
Both possible explanations likely play a part in increasing the risk for developing eating concerns. I believe that photo based media has played the largest role in the rising numbers of adolescents with body image and eating concerns. There is a growing movement in larger media outlets where famous women that are fighting back against stereotypes of women. I also believe that the “thin ideal” is shifting in our culture as influential women are promoting natural beauty and fighting against photo shop. What is rapidly increasing is photo based media within social groups. It is so easy now to judge yourself and others based on photos posted on social media.
Moriah,
I agree that there are more factors than just social media that could contribute to a person developing an eating disorder (Ed). Social factors are just one of them. However, in regards to your statement about Ed's being around before social media, this is true but the parallel rise in social media and Ed's cannot be dismissed. Children under 12 who were hospitalized for an eating disorder increased by 119 percent between 1999 and 2006, according to a study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. This is also around the time when the public began using social media and blogging cites. One way to look social media is as a double edged sword. It has been shown to contribute to disordered eating behaviors and body shaming while also being an avenue for spreading awareness and diminishing Ed stigmatization.
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