Are Health Influencers Secretly Harming Your Health?

October 27, 2024

by Cathe Friedrich

Whether you visit a social media site or watch a video on YouTube, you’ve seen them – the ubiquitous health influencer. They’re telling you what you should be eating and the lifestyle you need to be your happiest, healthiest self. They talk about chiseled abs, vibrant smoothie bowls, and intense workout routines – and people listen. But is their advice doing more harm than good? According to research, the advice health influencers dole out can damage the mental health of young people and, potentially, adults too.

The Allure of Health Influencers

Online health influences entice you with diet plans, nutrition tips, give you fitness tips, and even tell you how to stay healthy and live longer. And they’re not all bad. A study of more than 1,000 young adults found that people who followed health influencers ate more fruits and vegetables and were more likely to exercise. A positive, right? These influencers deliver an aspirational ideal – a vision of health, fitness, and happiness to strive towards. This ideal is alluring for those struggling to lose weight or make smart dietary choices.

And there’s no denying that health influencers with charisma motivate. They know how to get you fired up and ready to tackle new health habits. But they can also make people who don’t measure up feel like they’re falling short. If someone has obsessive-compulsive tendencies, they may relentlessly chase after unattainable standards. The risk is they could jeopardize their health through unhealthy practices like excessive calorie restriction or extreme diets.

The Mental Health Toll

The same study that found that people who follow health influencers are more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. But there were downsides. They also showed more signs of mental anguish compared to those who didn’t follow a health influencer. They were more likely to have depressive symptoms and anxiety. These downsides were most pronounced in those who followed diet influencers. This mental health toll was especially pronounced among those who followed food or diet-related influencers.

Unrealistic Standards and Body Image Issues

Why are people who follow health influencers more likely to struggle with mental health? You can’t say that health influencers directly cause mental health problems. People with psychological issues may be more attracted to health influencers. But if they contribute to mental health issues, the reason may be the unrealistic standards influencers promote. Rather than emphasizing being comfortable in your own body, some influencers push for a “fitness ideal,” a body type not everyone can achieve, even with hard work.

Social Comparison and Anxiety

When you make it your goal to get a certain body type, it’s easy to find yourself comparing your body to those that you see on social media sites like Instagram. You might find yourself scrutinizing and contrasting your own body and lifestyle to the polished images and videos people post on social media. Such comparisons can lead to body anxiety and a sense of inadequacy. It could also make you feel that you don’t measure up. Research shows that constantly seeing images of bodies deemed ideal fuels body dissatisfaction and unhappiness. This is particularly damaging to young people who are still developing self-esteem and discovering who they are.

The Dangers of Misinformation

There’s also the misinformation problem. Health influencers push a variety of diets, workouts, and supplements, some of which aren’t backed by science. To make matters worse, they may push products and plans that they haven’t used or are getting a kickback for. And they don’t take an individualized approach. A diet or supplement may work for one person, but there’s no guarantee that it will work for someone else. People have differing metabolisms, health histories, fitness levels, nutritional needs, genetics, and medical conditions. That’s why it’s always important to get advice from a healthcare provider before blindly listening to an influencer.

Disrupting the Health-Happiness Connection

Another problem with health influencers is they don’t always emphasize health. Often, they’re pushing a particular approach for how it will make you look rather than for the health benefits. The motivation may be more rooted in superficial appearances than long-term health and well-being. By emphasizing looks over the more important goals of health and well-being, influencers create a culture that emphasizes conforming to narrow beauty standards rather than holistic, balanced living.

The Role of Social Media Platforms

Don’t forget, even without health influencers, research shows excessive social media use harms adolescent well-being and creates negative body images. It’s already challenging for young people to deal with the struggles of becoming an adult. But when adolescents and teens see curated and filtered images of people, it creates unrealistic expectations that they think they must live up to. Instead, we need to push healthier, more inclusive, narratives around body image.

Finding a Healthier Balance

So how can you get helpful information from health influencers without the downsides? Here are some strategies:

Select well: Make sure the influencers on your radar are versed in science and use sustainable approaches. No quick fixes!
Do it for the right reasons: Make sure the influencers you place your trust in encourage you to exercise and eat well for health, not just to look better.
Seek professional guidance: No health influence is a substitute for qualified health professionals. Follow the advice of your healthcare provider who knows your history.
Think critically and verify claims: Don’t take health influencers at their word. Research and verify their claims.
Don’t be dependent on social media: Set boundaries on the time spent scrolling, so you don’t become confused by all the health information out there. Not all of it is reliable.

Conclusion

Influencers aren’t going anywhere! In fact, the number will likely increase, giving you a confusing array of choices. But be sure you’re looking beyond their claims and aren’t depending on them to decide your diet or lifestyle. They don’t know your health history like your healthcare provider does. Approach them with a critical eye and know that any suggestions they make should be part of a balanced, holistic lifestyle.

References:

https://www.spaopportunities.com/. “Fitness Influencers Have a Negative Impact on Mental Health | Spaopportunities.com News,” 2024. https://www.spaopportunities.com/spa-news/Social-media-health-influencers-found-to-have-a-negative-impact-on-mental-health/353304.
https://www.facebook.com/typeatraining. “Hidden Dangers of Following Fitness Influencers.” Type A Training, July 12, 2024. https://www.typeatraining.com/blog/hidden-dangers-of-following-fitness-influencers/.
Colak M, Bingol OS, Dayi A. Self-esteem and social media addiction level in adolescents: The mediating role of body image. Indian J Psychiatry. 2023 May;65(5):595-600. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_306_22. Epub 2023 May 15. PMID: 37397839; PMCID: PMC10309264.