Scrolling through fitspo on Instagram
Social media's nonstop stream of fitspiration— the clever blend of "fitness" and "inspiration" — is meant to help you get healthier. Some studies have even suggested that social media can motivate people to exercise more, albeit for a short time frame.
A small but growing body of evidence says it's backfiring. Some studies have found that viewing fitspiration images increases body dissatisfaction— a mental state that may lead to anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Fitspiration motivate you to hit the gym, but physical fitness shouldn't come at the expense of mental health.
When INSIDER reported on the potential dangers of viewing fitspiration back in June, dietitian Georgie Fear gave good advice for anyone on social media:
"I feel like the best thing a person can do when they're looking at their social media feeds is monitor how it's making them feel," she said. "If it's making you feel lousy, turn it off."
[Photo via @kayla_itsines]
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