URI Nutrition, social media and information about health, sport and nutrition disseminated through it are very harmful, especially for young people. According to study author Emma Cotter, much of this content does not have an appropriate scientific basis. Nevertheless, they influence a lot of people and, for example, lead to certain foods being added and others being left out.

“What I Eat in a Day” nonsense

According to the study author, there are a large number of postings that deal with what someone consumes in a day. In addition, a variety of drinks and products are marketed. However, according to Cotter, this is done without providing the relevant information. For the study, she surveyed 100 students in her department about how they perceived social media and especially postings about food, nutrition and sport in their first year of study.

Cotter found that exercise, nutrition and fitness are among the most searched topics on social media. More than 70 percent of respondents say they regularly look at nutrition topics in their news feed, listened to advice on changing their diet and watched videos like “What I Eat in a Day.” These come from influencers who often know little about what they are promoting or not.

In addition, social media stars are often paid to spread relevant advice. According to Cotter, there are numerous fitness trends that also correspond to nutritional trends. This includes advice on eating something specific to achieve the appropriate appearance. However, this also applies to avoiding certain foods. This could pose a danger to the body and the psyche, as there is a lot of shame and guilt when eating and choosing food.

Lots of questionable “advice”

According to Cotter's mentor Amanda Missimer, even postings that on the surface seem to offer positive advice, such as alternatives to satisfy your inner sweet tooth, can be physically and psychologically harmful. These include diets like Paleo or Keto, which seem to have positive effects but can deprive the body of crucial nutrients. According to experts, there is no diet that suits everyone.

According to the expert, a comparison with what another person needs and eats does not provide any important information about what you should eat yourself. “Fashion releases in particular are posted in this area at an alarming rate,” says Missimer. Following such influencers can lead to psychological stress. Added to this is the feeling of guilt because you didn't manage to meet the strict requirements, they say.

However, these feelings do not disappear immediately. 58 percent of respondents often or sometimes remember nutrition-related posts they saw during the day. More than half find themselves in the position of comparing their diet with that of influencers. Around half of students say this means they are cutting out foods or adding new ones to their diet. 48 percent also felt like they were being judged or criticized for their food choices.

Source:

Press release

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