Background: Time spent on social networking sites and the images trolling may have variable effects on physical and mental well-being including changes in perception of body image (BI) and dietary behavior. Particularly, junk food photos are highly popular on Instagram. Exposure to this type of content may have a negative effect on eating behavior by potentially setting an altered standard for food quantities and preferences.
Aim: The present study aimed to assess the effects of junk food-related content exposure on Instagram on BI dissatisfaction (BID), state BI, mood, and cravings.
Method: A randomized crossover experimental design was used. Sixty-three university students filled out an online baseline survey assessing baseline BID, physical activity, healthy eating, and social media use. They were then asked to browse either a control Instagram account feed or junk food account for 15 minutes, after which they filled out a short survey on state BI, mood, and cravings. After a washout period of 1 week, participants were exposed to the other type of account and asked to fill out the same short survey. A focus group of 9 participants was conducted after data collection to understand the level of awareness of participants on the effect of social media exposure on BID, mood, and cravings.
Results: Results indicated significantly higher scores of state BID, reported feelings of stress, sadness, hunger, and exhaustion as well as higher salty, savory, and fatty food cravings when participants were exposed to junk food content as compared to control content exposure. Participants reported higher cravings of junk food (burger and pizza) and lower cravings of healthy foods (whole grain turkey bagel and chicken salad) when exposed to the junk food content as compared to the control content. Regression analyses revealed that cravings for junk food was mediated by state BID and feelings of hunger after being exposed to junk food content on Instagram. Qualitative analysis revealed that young adults are aware that junk food content can increase their cravings and sometimes cause them to feel negatively about their body.
Conclusion: The present study revealed that SNS junk-food related content may negatively affect BID as well as mood and cravings. The results shed light on the need for interventions to increase community awareness such as social media literacy programs that provide technical, cognitive, and emotional competencies for mindful SNS use and reduce the negative impact of certain types of social media content.
