We are in 2024, and if you are thinking about starting a new fitness challenge, eat healthier to improve your health. It is a big decision and a big step to take. Just so you know, there is nothing wrong with doing better or setting good goals.
Many people always browse social media and see many interesting and inspiring posts, which may not always be the best strategy. A new study suggests you should rethink this strategy.
What is inspiration?
Fitspiration is a social media post made with the intention of inspiring fitness and promoting good health. You can find inspirational posts on different popular social media sites like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, and YouTube. They often include beautiful images and videos of people giving advice on diet and exercise, as well as inspirational sayings and quotes.
If you search #fitspiration (or related hashtags like #fitspo) on Instagram alone, you’ll see close to 100 million posts right now. Most of them show images of fit, attractive and slender women exercising while talking about fitness and how to maximize health.
Why is fitspiration a problem?
The pro-fitness message seen by millions of people could have positive benefits. But the message must be credible and come from a valid source. Importantly, posts must not provide false, harmful or ineffective information. What is the problem with fitpiration.
Being dissatisfied with your body.
Bad mood and false negative feelings.
Thinking that they are not attractive.
Accept that being thin is ideal and the only accepted standard of beauty.
More focused on their appearance than on their function and capacity.
A #fitspiration study: Do these social media updates really motivate exercise?
The writers listed 100 Fitspiration influencers on Instagram. The last 15 posts made by each of these accounts were verified and these posts were unreliable.
- They showed nudity or revealing clothing by wearing bikinis to the gym.
- sexualized the person exercising, for example by focusing on a woman’s breasts or buttocks.
- Included are photographs of people with extreme body types, such as those who are excessively muscular or terribly underweight.
- They didn’t focus on health; their messages promoted thinness or other negative messages.
The researchers found that:
- 26% of posts contained sexualized images.
- 22% posted nudes or images of people exercising in clothing not appropriate for exercise.
- 15% Posts featured people with extreme body types.
- 41% posted fitness-related content in three or fewer posts.
Twenty-five percent of these accounts were labeled untrustworthy due to multiple factors. Almost all of these accounts that were deemed non-genuine were submitted by people who held credentials associated with fitness or health, such as accreditation as a personal trainer or physical therapist.
The results raise concerns about the caliber of fitspiration’s content, even if the study did not look at whether the posts actually had an effect on fitness results.
What does this mean for everyone?
If you’re looking for content related to fitness and health, it’s best to keep in mind where you’re looking for information. Especially if they are publications that sell a product or service.
Conclusion
Not surprisingly, when it comes to health information, social media isn’t always the best place to start. There is nothing wrong with taking steps to improve your health and motivate yourself. The information you rely on to improve your health and fitness shouldn’t just be attractive.
Cheers to the new year and happy fitness!
Recent Comments