JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The social media trend #fitspiration aims to positively impact on its users’ health, but studies have shown detrimental effects as it mainly involves stereotypical and barely achievable body images and health behaviors. During puberty, adolescents develop their own identity and body image. Therefore, it is crucial to examine potential influencing factors like social media regarding the health of adolescents.

Objective:

The exploratory trial within the mixed methods study of the project FIVE (#Fitspiration Image Verification) aimed to provide first insights into how #fitspiration consumption might affect body image perception, dieting and working out in adolescents.

Methods:

Adolescents (N=86, age range 14 to 18 years, n=42 female) attending upper secondary schools in Eastern Austria took part in an online questionnaire concerning the #fitspiraton use, body image perception, and body shaping behaviors (dieting, working out) as well as in measurements of bioelectrical impedance analysis to value body composition. Based on [1], participants have been classified as #fitspiration users (n=27), non-users (n=51) and former users (n=8). We compared body image perceptions and body shaping behaviors of #fitspiration user groups sex-specifically with the Fat Mass Index (FMI) and the Fat Free Mass Index (FFMI).

Results:

The results indicated that the amount of muscularity was of greater importance for all participants than thinness because only 6% (5/86) of all participants thought that their amount of muscle was appropriate while 43% (37/86) of all participants rated their body weight as okay. Even though the majority was of normal weight (76/86, 88%) and had an average to high FFMI (62/86, 92%). However, this outcome seemed to be of greater significance for #fitspiration users – especially male ones: While male participants seemed to be more dissatisfied with their amount of muscularity and worked out more often (female: 24/42, 57%, male: 35/44, 80%), female participants seemed to be more dissatisfied with their body weight and were dieting (female: 10/42, 24%; male: 6/44, 14%). Generally, none of the #fitspiration users (0/27, 0%) answered that her/his amount of muscle was okay although all of them had an average or high FFMI (27/27, 100%). Participants assessed their body weight/fat more precisely (54/86, 63% rated it similar to the FMI) than their muscle mass (27/86, 31% rated it similar to the FFMI).

Conclusions:

The findings suggest that the adolescents tried to reach a toned (and thin for females) body ideal and that their use of #fitspiration seemed to fuel this ideal even further. Consequently, the line to eating disorders or body dysmorphia can be very thin, especially during puberty. Therefore, our findings can be used to raise awareness of the impact of #fitspiration on adolescents as source for health information and body images and consequently for body image perception and body shaping behavior. Clinical Trial: No clinical trial