TikTok's Impact on Eating Disorder Recovery & Body Image
TikTok is the latest social media craze that features short video clips on a variety of topics. While the content on TikTok is intended to be entertaining and inspiring, there are thousands of videos on the platform that perpetuate dangerous weight stigma and promote diet culture. These videos are especially problematic for individuals struggling with eating disorders, disordered eating, or body image issues.
by: Amanda Nussbaum
With social media becoming more popular and innovative each year, many people are active on a variety of social media platforms. TikTok is a relatively new app used by more than 800,000,000 people who create and watch short video clips consisting of popular dances, cooking tutorials, fashion and makeup tips, humor, and much more. About 41% of its users are younger than 25, which is the typical age range in which individuals struggle with their body image. TikTok users have the option to watch videos from accounts they follow or through their “For You Page” (FYP), which is made up of trending videos. Each FYP is different and customized based on what the app thinks viewers will like. Although TikTok can be fun and entertaining, certain content can be triggering and harmful for those who struggle with disordered eating, eating disorders, or body image concerns. TikTok can lead to self-comparisons, negative body thoughts, and eating disorders due to the constant barrage of videos with appearance-enhancing filters, a lack of body diversity representation, and harmful dieting.
Although TikTok’s policy states that the app does not allow content which “promotes eating habits that are likely to cause health issues”, a BBC news article, TikTok: Fear Videos May Trigger Eating Disorders, notes that many of its users spend nearly half of their time on the app watching weight-loss related videos. Some viewers bought a gym membership because they did not think their body looked like the ones that appeared in TikTok videos. Many people see “pro-ana” (pro-anorexia) or “thinspo” (thinspiration) videos, which encourage people to lose weight on TikTok. These videos encourage people to lose weight fast by eating low-calorie foods. TikTok creators also post low-calorie snack videos, diet trends, fasting, or videos with titles like “What I Eat in a Day – Under X Calories”. This can negatively affect one’s mental health and contribute to additional stressors and triggers which may contribute to the development of an eating disorder.
Although triggering accounts can be blocked or reported, it may not protect users from seeing these types of videos again. In addition, some viewers regard the creators with large followings, regardless of their content, as “influencers”. TikTok spectators may think these influencers and creators are “perfect” and therefore take their advice about how to lose weight or look a certain way, even if it is unrealistic, unhealthy, or dangerous.
Although there are harmful TikTok videos that may negatively affect those in eating disorder recovery, there are also a variety of TikTok accounts that promote recovery and help spread awareness about eating disorders. For example, a 22-year old with over 670,000 followers, Brittani Lancaster, posts a daily video called “What I Eat in a Day in Recovery from an Eating Disorder”. Her videos show viewers what realistic and balanced eating looks like for her body. After she uploaded a video celebrating three and a half years in recovery, Lancaster said, “I realized in that moment that TikTok was missing the niche of people talking about body positivity, people talking about eating disorder recovery”.
Rianna Kish is another TikTok creator who posts informative videos that reach over 200,000 people. Her videos relate to what she eats, what to say or not say to someone with an eating disorder, being comfortable with her body, and foods she gets anxious about when eating. Kish shows her real emotions of what it is like to struggle with an eating disorder. Similarly, Victoria Garrick, a former collegiate athlete, creates eating disorder and mental health videos and is followed by almost half a million viewers. Her videos discuss intuitive eating, the toxicity of diet culture, eating foods she enjoys, and body-confidence. Finally, Chris Henrie has been open with his 270,000 followers about his experience at an inpatient treatment center for his eating disorder and showing people what his recovery looks like.
Many viewers find this type of honest content relatable to their own experiences. Unlike negative TikTok accounts, these creators promote talking about eating disorder recovery in a positive light, providing coping skills they have learned, and de-stigmatizing seeing a therapist. They create a place for their followers to interact and form a community. Many viewers are inspired by these creators to seek help or share their own stories after watching these videos on TikTok.
Eating disorders are complex mental health disorders that many people struggle with, but often suffer in silence. TikTok can be a helpful tool for individuals in recovery if the content they are viewing is health-promoting, realistic, and uplifting, not detrimental to one’s recovery. Be cautious of TikTok accounts that glamorize looking a certain way, promote “fad” diets, and encourage rigorous exercise, which can lead to the development of an eating disorder or worsen one’s body image. It may be beneficial to only view content from the “Following” section, which is controlled by the user, rather than the “For You Page”, which is influenced by popular, potentially harmful content. Many people on social media compare themselves to what they see through a screen. It is important for there to be positive online role models on TikTok that encourage recovery and embrace all body types.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Intern, Amanda Nussbaum.
Amanda is a recent graduate of Ramapo College, where she majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She enjoys being creative, writing, and editing videos, and is passionate about health, wellness, and lifestyle. Throughout college, Amanda volunteered with the Girls on the Run organization, which helps young girls develop a positive self-esteem. She also mentored a young girl through Ramapo College’s chapter of Big Brother, Big Sister. Amanda’s involvement in these organizations helped her realize that she wants to work for a company that has an impact on others, while still being creative with marketing. In the future, Amanda hopes to work in the marketing or communications department of an organization that focuses on teenagers and young adults, and their health and self-confidence. She enjoys contributing to the BALANCE blog!