Adherence
Social media influencers promote a cognitive association between body perfection (low body fat, visible musculature) and happiness/health, driving followers to adopt restrictive dieting and exercise behaviors to achieve this ideal.
Be critical of fitness influencers on Instagram. Recognize that their content is often designed to sell products (supplements, sportswear) and create a dependency on their lifestyle advice. If you feel inadequate after viewing their posts, remember that their images are curated and edited. Seek health advice from certified professionals who do not have a financial stake in selling you specific products.
Influencers suggest a dependence on happiness, well-being, health and beauty. Only those who create a body shaped through control and discipline are healthy and beautiful - and can be happy.
Why this rating
Mixed methods (quantitative content analysis of 1000 posts + qualitative analysis of 27 threads), but observational and self-reported in nature.
Source
Selling health and happiness how influencers communicate on Instagram about dieting and exercise: mixed methods research
Katharina Pilgrim et al. · BMC Public Health · 2019
DOI 10.1186/s12889-019-7387-8
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →