Fitspiration culture on social media and its impact on eating habits and weight control behaviors among nursing students

10.30207/AHLA.202312.0008

Fesanmie D. Amarillo；Justine Allysa May L. Castillo；Kieth Mclyle C. Gumahad

dietary habits ； fitspiration ； social media ； weight control behavior

The Proceeding of the 9th AHLA International Health Literacy Conference: Health Literacy and Social Resilience

2023（2023 / 12 / 01）

8 - 8

英文

Background: The media has portrayed health as a major concern for people of all ages, particularly young people. "Fitspiration" (also known as "fitspo") aims to motivate people to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. There is very little existing literature on how people's lifestyles and physical health are influenced by engaging with this type of content. Initial research has focused on potential negative effects on psychological well-being, such as body image, self-esteem, and eating disorders. Objectives: The goal of this study was to gain knowledge and understanding of fitspiration and its impact on dietary habits and weight control behavior in a sample of nursing students at Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) who exercise and follow fitspiration. Method: This study utilized a descriptive correlational study. Purposive sampling was used to select 101 respondents to complete an online survey with closed-ended multiple-choice questions. Result: According to the findings, most participants watch and follow fitspiration content on social media, which increases their physical activity and adherence to a diet plan. When compared to fitness influencers, some report body consciousness and are dissatisfied with their failure to achieve their goals. There is a significant relationship between fitspiration culture and eating habits and between fitspiration culture and weight control behaviors. Conclusion: The fitspiration community on social media can be useful and persuasive for young people, but it appears to have both positive and negative effects. The result of this study can also help in health literacy, especially for the young to make informed decisions as they use fitspiration content. Moreover, future research should seek to determine the magnitude of positive and negative effects, as well as investigate methods of achieving desirable outcomes while minimizing undesirable outcomes.