For decades, the media’s obsession with appearances, fitness trends, fad diets, and the thin ideal has made it a significant trigger for body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders. With each new generation becoming more ‘online’ than the last, and the rise of new social media platforms, it’s not surprising that eating disorders continue to plague young people.
Rise In Mental Health Issues
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also played a major role in exacerbating disordered eating among Gen Z. “Between the isolation, anxiety-provoking news, constant use of social media and peer pressure to be on social media, this generation is in a perpetual state of comparisons to others and routinely exposed to false narratives, enhanced and filtered images, and negative media cycles,” Kindful Body therapist Jody Green says of her Gen Z clients.
The rise in co-occurring mental health issues like anxiety and depression during the pandemic directly impacted young people with pre-existing disordered behaviors like dieting. While many turned to hobbies to cope with the unprecedented times, others took on projects of self-improvement that led to restrictive “clean eating” and overexercising.
Social Media is Flooding Young Minds With Harmful Content
Thanks to TikTok’s exploding popularity, Gen Z was introduced to a new crop of health and wellness influencers who peddled diet products and unsound health advice. Many of these creators claim to be health and nutrition “experts” despite having zero medical credentials.