Viewing fitspiration content with a self evaluative mindset involves making comparisons based on evaluating physical appearances. This has been shown to lead to anxiety, high body dissatisfaction, and low self esteem. 

Fitspiration Content on Body Image: Negative Effects of Viewing Content with Self Evaluative Mindset 

One potential solution is to provide ways for individuals to view fitspiration content with a self improvement mindset rather than a self evaluative mindset. 

Xavier University

The negative impact of fitspiration content perpetuates the damaging mindset that it is more important to exercise and eat healthy in order to be thin rather than to be healthy. 

Fitspiration Content on Body Image: Implications 

Pryde, S. and Prichard, I. (2022). TikTok on the clock but the #fitspo don’t stop: The impact of TikTok fitspiration videos on women’s body image concerns. Body Image, 43. https://doi-org.xavier.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.09.004.

TikTok on the clock but the #fitspo don't stop: The impact of TikTok fitspiration videos on women's body image concerns

Fitspiration Content on Body Image: Potential Solution of Educating the Viewer 

A potential solution to the negative effects of fitspiration content is by educating content creators on the consequences of posting content that perpetuates a harmful ideal to their viewers, body image, and on the responsibility that they have to be mindful of the content that they are putting out onto the internet. 

Fitspiration Content on Body Image: Potential Solution of Educating Content Creators 

In the future, researchers should examine other types of positive and negative social media content that can potentially be related to body image, exercise, and dieting in some capacity. For example, studies can focus on content documenting eating disorder recovery vs content encouraging eating disorders. 

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