What Experts Say II

 

Another issue that society usually links to this topic is eating disorders. Beauty ideals that people set on social media typically contribute to eating disorders. A study looked at the relationship between eating disorders in young women and sociocultural factors such as social media usage, beauty ideals, body image or body satisfaction. Even though it is believed that the most critical factor in an eating disorder is genetics, the environment also has a significant impact. The study carried out questionnaires asking 18 - 25-year-old women college students (126) in the South of Spain specific questions about their body image concerns. The study found that the participants cited moderate levels of body dissatisfaction, which were significantly associated with eating disorders. In addition, the study found high levels of body dissatisfaction and a link with the desire to thin the body.

Moreover, the researchers argue that the thin ideal is overall on social media. They also believed that the ideal could lead to greater dissatisfaction, eating disorders and unhealthy measures. 

References:

Aparicio-Martinez, P., Perea-Moreno, A. J., Martinez-Jimenez, M. P., Redel-Macías, M. D., Pagliari, C., & Vaquero-Abellan, M. (2019). Social Media, Thin-Ideal, Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Attitudes: An Exploratory Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(21), 4177. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214177

Eating Disorders. (2020). [Illustration]. iStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/cs/vektor/deprimovaná-žena-nec%C3%ADt%C3%AD-hlad-a-jen-j%C3%AD-brokolici-k-j%C3%ADdlu-porucha-př%C3%ADjmu-potravy-gm1334045604-416318704