Social Media Use and Eating Disorders

Social media is one of the leading risk factors for the development of eating disorders.

A 2023 PLOS Global Public Health review examined existing global literature on the relationship between social media use and eating disorders in young people aged 10 to 24.

The review stated that social media usage is a significant risk factor that contributes to disordered eating and eating disorders.

According to the review, social media use can lead to self-objectification, thin or fit ideal internalization, and social comparison.

As a result, social media users, especially young people, may experience increased body image concerns, poor mental health, and disordered eating behaviors, which can ultimately lead to eating disorders like anorexia.

Specific exposures can increase the risk of developing an eating disorder, including appearance-focused platforms, investment in photos, social media trends, and pro-eating disorder content.

Specific moderators can strengthen the effects of these exposures, such as being female, having a higher body mass index, and having pre-existing body image concerns.

Interestingly, some moderators, like a positive body image and high social media literacy, can serve as protective factors, weakening or disrupting the adverse effects of social media use on body image and eating behaviors.

Because of the different effects of moderators, the review learned vulnerable social media users may enter a “self-perpetuating cycle of risk.”

This cycle can begin with a vulnerable user becoming exposed to harmful social media content, which leads to increased body image concerns and disordered eating behaviors.

The cycle continues as these individuals may seek out more harmful content, leading to worsening mental health and an increased risk of developing an eating disorder.

Social Media and Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is one of the eating disorders young people may develop as a result of harmful social media exposure.

Anorexia is a serious mental health condition that can have severe physical health consequences, including malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, and heart problems.

Anorexia nervosa usually involves an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading victims to extreme food restriction and excessive exercise to lose weight.

A person with anorexia may exhibit the following symptoms:

• Dramatic weight loss
• Refusal to maintain a healthy weight
• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
• Distorted body image, seeing themselves as overweight even when underweight
• Anxiety around food and eating in public
• Obsessive-compulsive behavior around calorie counting, food restriction, and exercise
• Amenorrhea or the absence of menstrual periods
• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Sleep disturbances
• Irregular or abnormal heart rhythms
• Difficulty concentrating and changes in mood or behavior
• Hair loss and other physical changes due to malnutrition

Social media can perpetuate and exacerbate these symptoms by promoting unrealistic body standards, triggering comparison among users, and encouraging unhealthy dieting behaviors.

A 2016 study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found a strong and consistent correlation between social media use and eating disorders, which was evident whether in volume or frequency of use.

According to the study, one-third of anorexia-related videos on YouTube are pro-ana (pro-anorexia), perpetuating harmful messages and behaviors.

Worse, these pro-ana videos received more views and comments than informative non-pro-ana videos.

Moreover, maladaptive use of Facebook, such as comparing oneself with others, is associated with increased body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors among young women.

Without a doubt, social media has played a significant role in the rise of anorexia nervosa.

Whether users see “thinspiration” posts (content that promotes thinness as an ideal) or “bonespiration” images (content that glorifies skeletal and extremely thin bodies), constant exposure to these harmful messages can lead to severe physical and mental health consequences.

As young people attempt to attain the “perfect” body shape and weight, they may engage in disordered eating behaviors, resulting in social media anorexia.

Social Media and Bulimia Nervosa

A person with bulimia nervosa engages in episodes of binge eating (consuming large amounts of food) followed by purging, which can take the form of self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use.

The individual may also exhibit weight fluctuations and a preoccupation with food and body image.

According to a 2023 study in the Journal of Eating Disorders, social media use, depression, anxiety, and bulimia are all connected.

The study found that high levels of problematic social media use can increase depressive symptoms, which in turn can worsen anxiety symptoms.

As a result, the individual may engage in harmful compensatory behaviors like binge eating and purging to cope with these negative feelings.

Interestingly, problematic social media use can also aggravate bulimic behaviors, indicating a strong and direct correlation between the two.

A person with bulimia may have the following symptoms:

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating, often with feelings of lack of control
• Purging behaviors after binge-eating episodes
• Fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
• Frequent use of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas to control weight
• Damaged teeth and gums due to frequent vomiting
• Acid reflux disorder
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances

Social Media and Binge-Eating Disorder (BED)

Binge-eating disorder is arguably the most common eating disorder in the country, as it affects all ages, genders, and racial and ethnic groups.

Similar to bulimia, an individual with BED engages in episodes of binge eating.

However, unlike bulimia, they do not engage in purging behaviors afterward.

This disorder can lead to significant weight gain and obesity.

Those with BED frequently experience feelings of guilt, shame, and disgust after a binge episode, leading to social withdrawal and isolation.

Common binge-eating disorder symptoms include:

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating with feelings of lack of control
• Eating much faster than normal
• Consuming large amounts of food even when not physically hungry
• Eating alone due to embarrassment about the amount consumed
• Feelings of guilt, shame, and disgust after a binge episode
• Preoccupation with body shape and weight
• Depression and anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating and changes in mood or behavior
• Diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health conditions associated with obesity

A 2022 review examined various literature on the impact of social media on binge-eating behaviors and found a significant correlation between the two.

The study revealed that individuals who spent extended hours and more frequently used social media platforms tend to have an increased appetite and intention to eat.

As a result, they may engage in binge eating behaviors to cope with negative emotions or as a form of distraction.

Other Social Media Eating Disorders

While anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are the most commonly recognized eating disorders, other types of disordered eating can also develop as a result of social media exposure.

Other eating disorders potentially linked to social media use include:

• Orthorexia Nervosa: Orthorexia nervosa is an obsession with “clean” or healthy eating to the point of leading to drastic weight loss and malnutrition.
  • Individuals with orthorexia may spend hours on social media looking for the “perfect diet” or following influencers who promote extreme eating habits. According to a 2017 study, this condition is prevalent in Instagram but not in other social media platforms.
• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): The pressure to conform to societal beauty standards can also contribute to avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), particularly in young individuals who develop disordered eating patterns due to anxieties around their physical appearance. ARFID refers to a limited food intake and can lead to significant weight loss and malnutrition.
• Night Eating Disorder: A person with a night eating disorder consumes a substantial portion of daily calories after dinner, late at night, or even in the middle of the night after waking up from sleep. It is often associated with poor sleep patterns and can lead to obesity and other health complications.

The Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Self-Worth

The proliferation of social media has had a profound impact on body image and self-worth, creating a digital environment where unrealistic beauty standards are constantly promoted and glorified.

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become arenas where heavily edited and filtered images present a distorted reality, leading to heightened body dissatisfaction among users.

The incessant exposure to such content can erode self-worth, as individuals compare their real selves to the idealized images they see online, often feeling inadequate or lesser.

Studies have shown a correlation between heavy social media use and an increase in mental health issues, including low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, all linked to negative body image.

Social media not only affects how individuals perceive themselves but also influences their behaviors, with some resorting to extreme dieting, exercise, or even considering cosmetic surgery to bridge the gap between their appearance and the ideals presented.

The issue is particularly acute among adolescents and young adults, who are at a formative stage in developing their self-identity and more susceptible to external influences.

The feedback loop of likes, comments, and shares on social media platforms further complicates the issue, as it can validate and reinforce the importance of meeting these unrealistic standards for social approval.

Recognizing the detrimental impact of social media on body image and self-worth is crucial in developing strategies to mitigate these effects, including promoting social media literacy and encouraging a healthier, more realistic representation of bodies online.

Lawsuits Against Social Media Companies

As the adverse effects of social media on mental health become increasingly evident, victims and their families have started taking legal action against social media companies for impacting mental health, perpetuating dangerous beauty standards, and promoting disordered eating behaviors.

Lawsuits claim that the design and content strategies of these platforms significantly contribute to negative mental health outcomes, including anorexia and similar eating disorders, particularly among vulnerable youth.

The Social Media Litigation is a group of lawsuits being consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

Filed against major companies, including Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook and Instagram), ByteDance Ltd. (TikTok), Snap Inc. (Snapchat), and Alphabet Inc. (Google and YouTube), the Social Media Lawsuit claims that social media companies play a role in fostering harmful content that negatively impacts users’ mental health.

The core argument of the plaintiffs is that these companies have created and maintained digital environments that exacerbate mental health issues among users, particularly young individuals, by promoting addictive usage patterns and exposing them to harmful content.

Social Media Lawsuits allege that the companies have been negligent in preventing these outcomes, despite possessing knowledge of the risks associated with their platforms’ operations and content algorithms.

The Social Media Addiction Lawsuit aims to secure compensation for affected individuals and enforce changes in how these companies manage and curate content to prevent further harm.

TorHoerman Law: Social Media Addiction Lawyers

The Social Media Lawsuit represents a significant legal challenge against major social media platforms, alleging their contribution to mental health issues, including the exacerbation of anorexia and other eating disorders, which have profound impacts on individuals and their families, causing emotional, physical, and financial strain.

Anorexia and similar disorders not only devastate the health and well-being of those directly affected but also place a heavy burden on loved ones and caretakers, necessitating comprehensive support and resources for recovery.

Our law firm is actively accepting new clients to join the Social Media Lawsuit.

If you or a loved one has suffered from an eating disorder due to social media use, contact us for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the Social Media Lawsuit instantly.