Learn to recognize the symptoms
Bulimia is when you lose control over the amount you're eating and then try to expel it from the body to avoid putting on weight.
Eating disorders are classified as mental health conditions where food is controlled in order to cope with feelings and other situations.
A study done in September of 2024 showed that every "additional hour of screen time and social media use was associated with higher odds of showing eating disorder symptoms."
Also known as anorexia, this eating disorder attempts to control weight by not eating enough, exercising too much, or both.
Binge eating involves consuming large portions of food until you feel so full it's uncomfortable.
According to a 2023 study, adolescents who are spending more time online are subsequently more likely to experience cyberbullying, which is considered another risk factor for developing an eating disorder.
Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, found in his 2021 study that for every hour of social media use, there was a 62% higher risk of developing a binge eating disorder a year later.
Social media can increase how often kids look at edited or altered photos, which can give them the impression that an ideal body is an impossibly slim one.
Many influencers are actually paid to promote products that could, in fact, encourage harmful habits or promote weight loss.
Additionally, it's not only what a teen or child sees, it's knowing that others see them. This can cause fear of being bullied.
This pressure may lead to teens spending a lot of time thinking or planning social media posts. They will start hyper-fixating on their appearance and how others perceive them.
Social media can have positive impacts, such as giving teens around the globe access to different ideas and education they might not have previously had. However, this can also be a negative thing.
While social media can be great for joining communities, some of them might include people who don't have healthy ideals involving food and body image. This can expose your child to harmful ideas and potentially negatively influence them.
Social media can expose our children to influencers and other content that can result in comparisons and exposure to unattainable body ideals as well as an intensification of impulsive behaviors.
Some content is very problematic and quite obvious. However, there is also information that can fly under the radar.
Normalizing this focus on weight loss and body image obsession can make social media truly dangerous to everyone, but especially to young, impressionable minds.
Even if somehow your child has managed to escape seeing a social media feed filled with weight loss incentives and body image dilemmas, they may still only see one body type featured. This can lead them to believe it's the "right" body and something they should strive for.
If your teen or child's social media feed doesn't show diversity of body types and a variety of content, that can lead to problems. There should be a mix of content such as hobbies, travel, or experiences to balance out body image posts.
Social media isn’t the sole cause of eating disorders, and banning it isn't always the answer.
If your child's social media starts negatively impacting them, encourage them to take breaks, focus on more positive information, or even delete triggering apps and prioritize their mental health.
By limiting earlier-in-life exposure to social media, you can strive to help teens develop healthier eating habits before they are influenced by potentially unrealistic diet trends and food fads.
Social media can definitely trigger emotional responses in kids, teens, and adults alike. Responses such as anxiety, comparison, and guilt can impact choices on food and how body image is perceived.
If you notice (or your child tells you) that social media is negatively affecting their eating habits or mental health, consider consulting a doctor, therapist, or medical professional for help and support.
Sources: (CNN Health) (Eating Recovery Center) (NHS)
If you notice your child becoming overly focused on their weight, or expressing extreme dissatisfaction with their body, these can both be warning signs that it's time to intervene.
When social media starts dictating eating habits, it can lead to social withdrawal, anxiety around food, or loss of interest in hobbies, signaling potential mental health concerns.
Try your best to create a safe and open space for your child to come to you if they need to. Don't pressure or shame them as this can further exacerbate the problem.
Having open, honest, empathetic, and transparent conversations with your child can go a long way. Help them build their resilience and encourage them to love who they are already.
While much of social media can be harmful, some influencers and groups do promote body positivity, balanced eating, and more.
Social media is a huge and influential force in the lives of kids, teens, and adults alike. It can be a place where you build community and a safe space or, where you are exposed to potentially harmful things like diet culture and unrealistic body expectations. A recent study has shown that the latter can have damaging effects on teens and their eating habits. Here you'll find more about what the study found as well as information to help your teen enjoy social media safely.
Curious about how to empower your teen through social media? Click through now.
Study finds link between social media and disordered eating in teens
How online influence shapes eating habits
HEALTH Diet
Social media is a huge and influential force in the lives of kids, teens, and adults alike. It can be a place where you build community and a safe space or, where you are exposed to potentially harmful things like diet culture and unrealistic body expectations. A recent study has shown that the latter can have damaging effects on teens and their eating habits. Here you'll find more about what the study found as well as information to help your teen enjoy social media safely.
Curious about how to empower your teen through social media? Click through now.