There are numerous accounts on social media that claim to inspire people to be fit and healthy, but what they really do is cause people to constantly compare themselves to the fitness celebrities they follow, especially on Instagram. Recent studies have shown this can actually damage one’s own body image and mental health rather than motivate followers to get active and healthy.
There are definitely negative side effects of social media, which can harm our image of ourselves. The outcomes of some studies about social media include women showing a higher drive for thinness, self-objectification, body dissatisfaction and body surveillance. This is not surprising, and it is the opposite of inspiring.
A majority of users posts the most attractive photos of themselves, even being edited to the point of unrealistic expectations. This is detrimental because people are comparing themselves to images that are unattainable fantasy.
While these Instagram stars are promoting health and fitness, they’re selling their diet and exercise plans, too. Rarely do I see credentials, such as certifications or a higher level of education, that backs up their theories on how to lose weight. This is a problem because you’re getting fitness and nutrition instruction from individuals who are not qualified to be giving that type of advice.
And not everyone is going to see the same results. Sometimes some people will not see results at all, because the programs are not tailored to one’s specific needs. But the programs are presented as if they are going to work for everyone, no matter what. This is what spirals people into eating disorders and disordered eating.
While I was looking at some research I found a story of a young lady who tried a diet/exercise plan on Instagram. She said she felt great in the beginning and had attained the results she thought she wanted and worked so hard for. She noticed over time, though, that food became her enemy, she didn’t see it as a source of fuel but rather felt tormented. As she could not stop comparing herself to other women on social media, she panicked whenever she ate bad food. She wondered why she didn’t have six pack abs and would force herself to vomit to “stay in shape.”
Oddly enough, I had a similar experience, if not identical, while following the same program. Which makes me wonder how many other women are struggling with eating disorders and disordered eating on these diet/exercise plans. The media displays a message that if you’re not fit enough, thin enough or lean enough, then you’re not good enough.
It’s very important to be mindful of who you are following, noticing how you feel after being on social media. Do you feel down, depressed and not skinny enough? Or do you feel good that you laughed when you saw something funny and shared it with your friends and family?
We can control what type of media we’re consuming and how much. Of course, if we don’t feel good about ourselves and see outrageously fit models on Instagram, there is room for comparison and unhappiness. If people are going to inspire others to be healthy and fit they need to be careful how they do it. On Instagram, it’s very obvious to me when people are trying to actually motivate and help people be healthy and when they are finding ways to show off their bodies.
Believe it or not people are not perfect, and these Instagram models/fitness gurus are showing people perfectionism exists. It doesn’t. We need to learn to accept our flaws and instead of taking the perfect photo and video at just the right angle we need to show people we’re human and help others love themselves just as they are.
It’s OK to want to lose weight and be fit, but that doesn’t mean you have to see every muscle in your body. Everyone is trying to look like someone else instead of themselves. The world would be boring if we all looked the same we’re all different shapes and sizes for a reason.
Sabrina Latour is a student at the University of Utah majoring in health promotion and education, and has an associate of applied science degree in personal training and health education.