“I aspire to look and feel healthy like the posts convey”: engagement with fitness inspiration on social media and perceptions of its influence on health and wellbeing

Abstract

BackgroundFitspiration is a popular social media trend containing images, quotes and advice related to exercise and healthy eating. This study aimed to 1) describe the types of fitspiration content that users access and how they engage with content, 2) investigate the disordered eating and exercise behaviours and psychological distress of individuals who access fitspiration, and 3) understand the perceived influence of fitspiration on health and wellbeing.MethodsParticipants who access fitspiration content were recruited via social media to complete a cross-sectional online survey. Participants’ psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10); disordered eating behaviours using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26); and compulsive exercise behaviours using the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI). Participants also answered a series of open-ended questions about their experiences with fitspiration. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted for quantitative data. Responses to open-ended questions were analysed for key themes using an iterative process of open, axial and thematic coding.ResultsParticipants (N = 180, 151 female, median age 23.0 years (IQR 19.0, 28.5)) most commonly accessed content posted by personal trainers and athletes (59.4%), posts tagged with the ‘fitspiration’ hashtag (53.9%) and posted by ‘everyday’ people (53.3%). Overall, 17.7% of participants were classified as high risk for an eating disorder, 17.4% reported very high levels of psychological distress, and 10.3% were at risk of addictive exercise behaviours. Participants described both positive and negative influences of engaging with fitspiration content. The influence on their health beliefs and behaviours was explained through four key themes: 1) Setting the ‘healthy ideal’, 2) Failure to achieve the ‘ideal’, 3) Being part of a community, and 4) Access to reliable health information.ConclusionsMany participants reported benefits of fitspiration content including increased social support and access to health information. However, participants also reported that fitspiration content could negatively influence their wellbeing and perception of healthy goals. Content posted by relatable individuals or qualified experts was perceived as most trustworthy. Future research is needed to determine the individual and content-related factors associated with negative and positive fitspiration experiences.

Learning the Language of Social Media: A Comparison of Engagement Metrics and Social Media Strategies Used by Food and Nutrition-Related Social Media Accounts

“…Showing people exercising was not associated with higher engagement on either platform, which is dissimilar to previous research on social media 'Fitspiration' content, where this type of post was seen as useful and motivational [49]. Fitspiration content was commonly accessed by young adults through LP, such as personal trainers and athletes, as well as 'everyday people', including friends and peers [49]. Furthermore, participants perceived qualified fitness experts and individuals who were relatable as trustworthy sources of health information [49].…”

“…Fitspiration content was commonly accessed by young adults through LP, such as personal trainers and athletes, as well as 'everyday people', including friends and peers [49]. Furthermore, participants perceived qualified fitness experts and individuals who were relatable as trustworthy sources of health information [49]. However, fitspiration also brought about pressure to meet a 'healthy ideal' [49].…”

“…Furthermore, participants perceived qualified fitness experts and individuals who were relatable as trustworthy sources of health information [49]. However, fitspiration also brought about pressure to meet a 'healthy ideal' [49].…”

Examining the self‐reported advantages and disadvantages of socially networking about body image and eating disorders

“…Participant's preference for online communication along with their interest in online recruitment and support via SMPs outlines the potential to engage persons on SMPs to participate in an online intervention. This is further supported by past findings which demonstrate successful online social media recruitment and connection to interventions (Raggatt et al, 2018).…”

‘When you think of exercising, you don’t really want to think of puking, tears, and pain’: Young adolescents’ understanding of fitness and #fitspiration

“…Thus, messages linking fitness to physical attractiveness, which are an integral part of #fitspiration content, may not resonate as much with younger adolescents as with older populations (e.g., Raggatt et al, 2018). Understanding how intrinsic motivations for physical activity can be sustained during adolescence, when faced with cultural messages like #fitspiration that promote extrinsic aesthetic motivations, may be an important avenue for future research.…”