Both addiction and frequent use of social networks among adolescents are risk factors for developing an eating disorder (ED), being instagram the most problematic. These are the conclusions of a recent pioneering study in our country that examines the possible association between the most common social networks with diseases such as anorexia or bulimia among Spanish adolescents.
The work, led by the researcher Jose Francisco Lopez Gilhas been published in the specialized magazine International Journal of Mental Health and Addictionone of the most prestigious in the world in terms of psychology, and developed by Spanish researchers as part of the EHDLA project (Eating Healthy and Daily Life Activities, or Healthy Eating and Activities of Daily Living). It is the first work that investigates this matter within the Spanish population, specifically attending to young adolescents.
To carry out the study, data obtained from 653 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 from three secondary education centers during the 2021/2022 academic year, in the Ricote Valley (Region of Murcia), 44% of them male. The results obtained allow us to conclude that, in general, both the use and addiction to social networks were related to eating disorders in adolescents.
Social networks spread unrealistic images that promote body dissatisfaction
According to these findings, the main problem is that social networks, led by Instagram, present images that conform to the dominant beauty standards in society, and continued exposure to such images can lead to social comparison, body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. In addition, the study points out, these networks and their influencers promote the call fitspiration or “fitness inspiration”, messages that are supposed to spread healthy lifestyles but can also lead to dissatisfaction.
The editing and manipulation of the photos and videos that are published, for example through the popular filters, does nothing more than accentuate this problem, by transmitting an unrealistic vision of foreign bodies that project unattainable standards of beauty, generating greater personal dissatisfaction. According to the study, instagram It is, for now, the social network that generates the greatest impact on the perception of the self-image of young people, increasing the risk probabilities of suffering an eating disorder by 20%, followed by TikTok and Twitter.
Specialists in this type of disorder have spent years warning of the potential risk posed by social networks for mental health and eating disorders, especially for the youngest, who spend more time using them and are more receptive to their messages. Although eating disorders are multifactorialthe authors consider that the data are conclusive enough to consider the use of social networks as a risk factor to develop them.
Thus, they conclude, it could be relevant to promote awareness and prevention campaigns about the dangers of excessive use of these networks, as well as their responsible and conscious use.
EATING WITH FEAR (WITHOUT COLLECTION)
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