Overview
The concept of eating disorders is not as clear as it may seem. We often hear of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). Meaning if you don’t fall into one of these categories then you don’t have an eating disorder. This, however, could not be more wrong. Every eating disorder is unique, and many fall between the lines of these categories. More inclusive terms are being produced such as avoidance restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and otherwise specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED). However, this is still not enough. Over 80% of those suffering from eating disorders never receive treatment (Fitzsimmons-Craft et al., 2019). Just in Canada, there are approximately 1 million people diagnosed with eating disorders (NIED, 2020) so that would mean that there are likely millions of people out there struggling alone with an eating disorder and finding little to no help. This lack of diagnosis must be addressed as this mental illness is linked with high morbidity and mortality. Bringing more awareness to eating disorders will save lives.
General Information
Social media’s relationship with eating disorders
Almost everyone has seen, liked, or even published a post on social media that illustrates body image, thinspiration (which is the motivation or inspiration to become thinner), eating disorders, or weight. However, it is essential that these posts are monitored as the internet often contains unreliable information. This can be extremely dangerous as studies have found that youth, especially those who perceive themselves as overweight, often choose to search for health-related information online as it is accessible and confidential.
When searching social media for inspiration or help the line between fitspiration and pro-anorexia is blurred. Some people choose to search online for workout or meal plans, however, most found online are not created by a personal trainer or dietician which can be problematic. Health information from unqualified influencers can lead to eating disorder behaviour. Even if the influencer is attempting to produce inspirational content it may also promote anorexia and other eating disorders. Both fitspiration and pro-anorexia content are extremely harmful although only one is perceived that way. Fitspiration, as well as pro-anorexia, content often influences disordered eating behaviours and evokes social comparison. Many influencers brand themselves as fitspiration instead of pro-anorexia as a tactic. This way they can be seen as positive influencers and still decrease the body satisfaction of their viewers. Through this, they can sell workout routines, gym apparel, diet supplements, and more all while seeming helpful and well-intended. Influencers use their social media platform to persuade adolescents to body dissatisfaction. By doing this adolescents are led to take action and to “fix” their bodies, resorting to buying weight loss supplements suggested by influencers. Influencers build relationships, present themselves as experts, and personalize meal plans, workouts, and products to their followers. They use this trust to sell products for endorsements and take advantage of adolescents’ mental illnesses.
However not all the blame can be placed on social media influencers, the social media companies are also at fault here. Social media platforms create algorithms that target content toward their users. While social media user’s may have their own agency in choosing which content to follow, like, and repost, these users are also exposed to content from social media algorithms. These algorithms collect data on a user and then direct content towards them based on this data to try and sell products or promote content. More often than not young girls receive ads about weight loss, workout clothes, workout equipment, weight loss supplements, and more. These algorithms can be extremely harmful and can cause or perpetuate eating disorders. Social media users must be prudent to avoid getting caught up in the algorithms.
Body Dysmorphia
Body dysmorphia is the mental obsession with flaws in your appearance and often leads you to believe that you are bigger, uglier, or more flawed than you actually are (Himanshu et al., 2020; Kollei et al., 2012). When discussing and analyzing eating disorders there is a constant focus on weight. Majority of those living with eating disorders and dissatisfied with their weight and are actively trying to lose pounds. However, body dissatisfaction, a cause of eating disorders, focuses on more than simply weight. Many people who suffer from negative body image, body dissatisfaction, and body dysmorphia will fall into an eating disorder whether their insecurity is weight or not. This is because people with body dysmorphia often experience high levels of stress. Leading to the overanalyzing of their body and nit-picking at any little flaw. It was found that females, in general, were more likely to be discontent with their physical appearance with the main insecurity being body fat. In addition, women were more likely to have body dysmorphia disorder while men were more likely to have muscle dysmorphia. People with body dysmorphia are 32% more likely to develop an eating disorder than those without (Himanshu et al., 2020).
