Where Health and Social Media Collide

Social media, though providing endless opportunities and beneficial tools in society, has been stamped with a bad reputation for causing a decline in mental well-being and a surge in comparison and self-loathing. 

While a constant exposure to body images and vigorous lifestyles may have a negative impact on viewers — especially those of the developing adolescent demographic, there are also many benefits to the conjoining of the health and influencer communities. 

Body positivity is a social movement that has broken the internet with the purpose of empowering individuals and devaluing the beauty standards that have been set in place in society for so long. The most important aspect of this movement in regards to the nutrition/fitness community is the concept of health over looks. This encourages a mindset switch for people to adopt — meaning that a healthy, active, fueled body is more important than physical appearance. 

Where this movement has taken an unhealthy turn, the nutrition/fitness community stepped in. Following the birth of the “body positivity” trend, health influencers and advocates decided to promote the idea that while body shaming is wrong, this concept does not mean that our society should also banish the value of being healthy. 

In turn, health and fitness influencers have gained massive amounts of followers for inspiration and tips rather than comparison purposes. Where the health and social media worlds collided have brought communities to motivate one another and gain knowledge on exercising and eating right. Influencers such as Kayla Itsines and Ellen Decker have developed groups for people all around the world to encourage one another while getting fit and healthy. 

During quarantine, Youtube fitness instructor Chloe Ting gained immense popularity from individuals looking to get in shape amidst isolation and lockdowns. Her exercise routine videos went viral as many searched for ways to get moving and defeat tremendous boredom. Ting, along with many other health influencers, have played a major role in bringing nutrition and fitness to social media. 

With the help of these influencers, it’s not really necessary to spend loads of money for workout and diet plans anymore. There is always the option to pay for extra programs or specific plans tailored to you, but a majority of these social media profiles offer daily exercise routines and nutritious recipes.

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Where social media comparison and extreme diet culture have left damaging effects on society, the health and fitness world has aimed to reverse the mentalities of digital consumers to the desire to energize your body, rather than aim to resemble photoshopped images all across the internet. 

From workout routine videos on Youtube to healthy meal ideas on Instagram or quick health tips and mythbusters on TikTok, influencer culture has provided an easy way for all to get healthy.