The Dangers of Extreme Diet Trends on Social Media for Teenagers

Every day, millions of teenagers scroll through screens, absorbing content that often frames the ideal body in a narrow form: slim, tall, and nearly flawless. Behind the beautiful photos and the overwhelming number of "likes," a danger quietly grows in the form of eating disorders and malnutrition that haunt the younger generation.

From before-and-after videos, extreme fasting tips, to unrealistic "what I eat in a day" content, social media, particularly TikTok and Instagram, has now become a fertile ground for narratives of the ideal body that can endanger health.

One of the emerging trends lately is "SkinnyTok," a viral hashtag on TikTok that glorifies extremely slim bodies. Behind this visual aesthetic lies damaging messages, as teenagers are encouraged to lose weight drastically, restrict their food intake, and even consume weight loss pills without medical supervision.

Research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) in the United States indicates that TikTok accounts with names related to dieting receive more video recommendations about eating disorders and self-harm. This demonstrates how algorithms can amplify users' vulnerabilities.

Many teenagers are also tempted to follow extreme keto diets, intermittent fasting, or completely avoiding carbohydrates due to viral content. They are unaware that the bodies of teenagers are in a growth phase, and restricting nutrition can damage metabolism, disrupt hormonal cycles, and trigger menstrual disorders.

Instead of becoming healthy, many teenagers are experiencing chronic fatigue, difficulty concentrating in school, and even depression. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have also emerged, often resulting in hospitalization or long-term trauma.

This situation is exacerbated by the numerous influencers promoting weight loss products, such as diet pills or detox drinks, without scientific evidence supporting those claims. The consumption of such products without consultation with health professionals can pose risks to health and does not guarantee the desired results.

The increasing number of women and young girls suffering from diseases such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders cannot be separated from the influence of social media, although the figures among men also show an increase.

A 2019 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the percentage of people worldwide who had experienced some type of eating disorder during their lifetime increased from 3.5 percent in 2000 to 7.8 percent in 2018, a timeframe that reflects the rise of social media.

This study was conducted by Marie Galmiche and her colleagues, who analyzed 94 studies with accurate diagnoses of eating disorders and 27 studies with broader diagnoses. They found that eating disorders are very common worldwide, particularly among women, and their prevalence has significantly increased during the reviewed period.

The causes of eating disorders are complex, with psychological, genetic, environmental and social factors all potentially making someone more vulnerable.

Social media is "not the cause, but a trigger," said Nathalie Godart, a psychiatrist for children and adolescents at the Student Health Foundation of France, as reported by AFP on May 1, 2025.

According to Godart, by promoting thin bodies, strictly controlled diets, and relentless exercise, social media undermines individuals who are already vulnerable, and it can even pose a threat to their health.

When algorithms favor the ideal body, real human bodies that are growing and seeking identity often feel inadequate. Self-perception becomes distorted. Many teenagers begin to hate their bodies simply because they do not conform to the visual standards they see every day.

According to Godart, this issue requires a collective response. We need to equip the younger generation with digital literacy so that they can filter and understand that what they see on screens is often not a reflection of reality. We also need to foster a culture of body acceptance, emphasizing that being healthy is not limited to a single form.

Equally important, access to psychological assistance must be widely available. Eating disorders are not a matter of "seeking attention," but rather a serious condition that can take lives.

For health professionals trying to help teens recover from eating disorders, misinformation from influencers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram is a major problem.

"We no longer treat eating disorders without also addressing social media use. It (social media) has become a trigger, clearly an accelerator and a barrier to recovery," said French dietitian and nutritionist Carole Copti.

Charlyne Buigues, a nurse in France specializing in eating disorders, stated that individuals suffering from eating disorders often have low self-esteem.

We no longer treat eating disorders without also addressing social media usage. It has become a trigger, clearly an accelerator, and a barrier to recovery.

"However, by exposing their thinness due to anorexia on social media, they gain followers, views, likes... and this will exacerbate their problems and prolong their denial," he added.

This can especially occur if the content generates revenue. Buigues recounts the story of a young woman who regularly live-streams herself vomiting on TikTok and has "explained that she is paid by the platform and uses that money to buy groceries."

The problem is that influencers today are far more influential than health experts or even health institutions. Copti recounted his experience during a consultation session with patients that could spark debate. Many patients refute the advice of experts due to references found on social media.

"I have to constantly fight to make them understand that it is impossible to maintain a healthy diet by only consuming 1,000 calories—that is half of what they need—or that, no, it is not normal to skip meals," he said.

"Patients are truly indoctrinated—and my weekly 45-minute consultations do not compare to spending hours every day on TikTok," he added.

Godart warned about the proliferation of individuals claiming to be "pseudo-coaches," who disseminate incorrect, "nonsensical," and potentially illegal nutritional advice.

"These influencers are far more powerful than institutions. We are constantly struggling to get simple messages about nutrition across," he said, pointing out that there are lifelines available to those in need.

"We must continuously strive to convey a simple message about nutrition," said Charlyne Buigues, a nurse in France who specializes in eating disorders.

Now, nutrition and health experts are expected to engage in the world of social media to provide education or accurate content to counter the influence of influencers with their misleading information. However, this will not be easy.

Labeling misleading content as hoaxes will not completely resolve this issue. The production of erroneous content will continue to flood as long as algorithms remain in control. Countering the negative influence of misleading information on social media cannot only be addressed at the downstream level, as this is akin to trying to contain a flood with a bucket.

Preparing young people to think critically, including in their use of social media, becomes one of the protective barriers against negative influences. Face-to-face communication and quality interactions with children at home, including discussing their health, can strengthen that barrier. (AFP)