The issues with media consumption: The impact of #whatiIeatinaday content on disordered eating behaviours

Abstract

Social media posts about everything a person has eaten in a day, called #whatIeatinaday videos, can lead to an increase in disordered eating behaviours. Disordered eating behaviours are behaviours that show an unhealthy relationship with food, such as excessive food restriction, anxiety related to specific foods, excessive dieting, and purging. However, it is possible that #whatIeatinaday videos could also help people in recovery from an eating disorder. A variety of studies, including surveys, interviews, and experimental designs, will be used to investigate the common themes in #whatIeatinaday videos, including misinformation and moralising food. This article examines the impact that social media, including #whatIeatinaday videos, has on disordered eating behaviours and body image. This review will investigate both the negative impact of #whatIeatinaday on disordered eating and the positive effects of social media on recovery. The present study ends by suggesting that #whatIeatinaday videos can be used to help people in recovery, but only if they are used carefully.