The Role of Social Media in Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery
Written by ‘Ai Pono Hawaii Staff Writer
Social media plays a significant role in our modern lives, with We Are Social revealing that as of January 2022, there were 4.62 billion social media users globally. And while it’s an undeniable fact that social media can negatively impact body image and trigger disordered eating behaviors in some people, research also shows it can help improve body image perception and even support eating disorder recovery. If you are recovering from an eating disorder, here are five practical tips to help you navigate social media plus a look at the role of social media in eating disorder treatment and recovery.
Social Media, Body Image, and Eating Disorders
For decades, researchers have explored the way media--images and messages found in magazines, TV shows, and advertisements--shapes body image perception and body satisfaction. The results reveal an undeniable connection between media exposure and body image issues, body satisfaction, and eating disorders. For example, in the 1980s and 90s, researchers discovered the “thin ideal” idolized in the media significantly (and negatively) affected young girl’s and women’s body image perception and led to an increase in disordered eating behaviors. A 2010 study on college students found that exposure to “thin ideal” images in magazines led to negative moods, increased body dissatisfaction, diminished self-esteem, and even caused some to engage in eating disorder symptoms.
While traditional media platforms (television, magazines, and advertisements) have had a significantly negative impact on body image over the past 50+ years, the recent birth of social media launched a whole new era of media-influenced body image problems and disordered eating triggers.
Constant Exposure
One of the reasons why social media impacts body image and body satisfaction even more than traditional media platforms is the continual exposure users have to images and messages, many of which promote a thin-ideal, dieting, and body comparisons. While in the past, people may have been exposed to images in the media while watching a TV show or while browsing a magazine rack at the grocery store, today, people are spending hours every single day scrolling through social media. One recent study revealed 16-24-year-olds spend an average of 3 hours each day on social media, mainly on image-based sites like Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook. Seventy-one percent of Snapchat users and 55 percent of Instagram users ages 18-24 reveal they visit the apps several times each day according to Pew Research Center.
For many people (especially young women), these hours on social media are filled with a neverending reel of unrealistic beauty standards, weight loss posts, body comparisons, thin- and fit-spiration content, and body-shaming comments. With the daily (often hourly) exposure to picture-perfect supermodels, photoshopped friends, and perfectly-posed celebrities, it’s no wonder research shows social media usage may contribute to the development of body dysmorphia and eating disorders among vulnerable individuals. The National Eating Disorder Associaton (NEDA) shared findings from a recent study revealing that among women between 18 and 25 years old, Instagram usage increased body image concerns and triggered self-objectification. Further, a study conducted by the University of Haifa in 2011 found that the more time teenage girls spend on social media sites, the higher their risk is of developing negative body image and eating disorders.
Pro-Eating Disorder Content
Another reason why social media can be especially harmful to individuals with an eating disorder, in ED recovery, or vulnerable to developing an ED is the abundance of potentially triggering and pro-eating disorder content found on many social media sites.
For example, “pro-ana” and “pro-mia” are terms used to describe content that promotes and encourages anorexia and bulimia behaviors. This often includes individuals with anorexia and bulimia sharing their ideal body weight goals, telling others about their disordered behaviors, and asking for accountability partners to help them engage in the disorder. While social media sites attempt to censor this type of content, it still exists on many popular platforms, like Instagram and TikTok. Popular content on TikTok includes videos entitled “What I eat in a day - under 1,200 calories” and trends where users have to prove how small their waist is by using random items around the house.
For vulnerable individuals and those in eating disorder treatment and recovery, this type of content can be extremely triggering and encourage them to engage in disordered behaviors. One residential treatment center in Chicago reported 30-50 percent of its teen patients were using social media to support their eating disorders.
In addition to pro-eating disorder content, there is also an overwhelming amount of fitness and weight-loss content on social media sites. One 19-year-old woman from Wells, England says in an article on BBC News that 40 percent of her time on TikTok is spent viewing weight-loss content. "Last night, I was on TikTok and I ended up feeling so negative about myself I paid £85 for a gym set and personalized fitness plan." She goes on to say, "my attitude towards my body was so negative after, I thought that could be the only thing to change it.”
And thanks to social media algorithms, if you’ve ever watched a weight loss video or looked up fitness accounts, the site will bombard you with other content just like it. For vulnerable individuals, seeing weight-loss and “fitspo” content can be detrimental and triggering. "I'd just get all these suggestions of weight loss hashtags... It just made it easier and in a way... tempting to dip my foot back into the eating disorder world," shares Rose Anne Evans in a BBC interview.
The Role of Social Media in Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery
While social media can have a negative impact on those in eating disorder treatment and recovery, it can also be used for good. Many in recovery from an eating disorder have turned to social media communities for support and accountability as they begin their recovery and weight-gain journey.
“I realized there was an entire world of people out there, just like me, struggling with the same demons," shares Julia Grigorian, a young woman who stumbled into the #EDrecovery world when she was suffering from severe anorexia. Grigorian shares in a Vice article that the ED recovery community on Instagram was instrumental in pushing her towards recovery.
Keep in mind, some content within the #EDrecovery world can be triggering (before/after photos, weight gain posts, and food photos). If you are in a vulnerable place in recovery, consider carefully before you follow eating disorder recovery content. And remember an online community, though sometimes helpful in recovery, never replaces professional counseling, therapy, or treatment.
Another way social media can be used for good in eating disorder treatment and recovery is to promote body positivity and inclusion. While many accounts promote the thin-ideal and negatively impact users’ body image perception, other accounts seek to support and represent all bodies. Research shows body positivity content can help increase body satisfaction and decrease body image concerns. For example, a study among 195 young women found that brief exposure to body-positive Instagram posts resulted in significantly improved mood and body image perception.
5 Tips on Navigating Social Media During Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery
If you are in eating disorder treatment and recovery, it may be wise to take a break from social media, especially image-based sites like TikTok and Instagram. Talk to your treatment team to better determine if social media usage is wise at your stage of recovery. If you decide to continue using social media, here are five tips to help you safely navigate social media during eating disorder treatment and recovery.
1. Unfollow Triggering Accounts
If a friend, influencer, or celebrity posts content that causes you to compare your body or triggers your eating disorder behaviors, consider unfollowing or muting their account, at least for a time.
2. Follow Educational & Awareness Accounts
Turn your social media scrolling into a positive experience by following accounts that raise awareness and educate others about eating disorders and recovery.
Here are some suggested Instagram accounts to follow:
3. Follow Body Positivity Accounts
Another great way to use social media to support your recovery and reorient disordered beliefs about body image and eating is to follow body positivity accounts.
Here are a few of our favorite body positivity Instagram accounts to follow:
4. Report Unsafe/Triggering Content
If you have looked at pro-eating disorder or weight-loss content in the past, it may continue to pop up on your feed thanks to social media’s algorithms. If you see content that is harmful and supportive of eating disorders, you may consider reporting it to the social media platform.
5. Set Social Media Limits
It may be helpful to set a limit on how much time you spend on social media to avoid spiraling into comparisons and body image concerns. Most phones allow you to set a time limit on apps in Settings.
If you or someone you love is suffering from an eating disorder, take the first step today and talk to talk to someone about recovery or simply learn more about the eating disorder recovery programs we offer.