![]() ![]() For example, fitspiration content contains objectifying images that depict an idealised thin-athletic female body type and hypermuscular male body type. ĭespite an ostensible focus on healthy lifestyle behaviours, content analyses have revealed that fitspiration content commonly portrays several harmful themes. To illustrate its popularity, a search (October 9, 2017) of ‘#fitspo’ on Instagram returned over 48 million posts. ‘Hashtags (#)’ accompanying content enable it to be followed by other social media users. Fitspiration content is generated and shared on major social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr with ‘friends’, ‘followers’, or the general public. Some social media users who follow the fitspiration trend also engage in discussions that shape an online ‘fitness culture’ including expressing views around a ‘healthy’ appearance and ‘correct’ dieting and exercise behaviours. ‘Fitness inspiration’, often abbreviated to ‘fitspiration’ or ‘fitspo’, is a popular health trend on social media where individuals post or view images, quotes and advice about fitness and nutrition. Increasingly, people look to social media to connect with each other, create expressions of self-identity, and seek information about health. Future research is needed to determine the individual and content-related factors associated with negative and positive fitspiration experiences. Content posted by relatable individuals or qualified experts was perceived as most trustworthy. However, participants also reported that fitspiration content could negatively influence their wellbeing and perception of healthy goals. Many participants reported benefits of fitspiration content including increased social support and access to health information. The influence on their health beliefs and behaviours was explained through four key themes: 1) Setting the ‘healthy ideal’, 2) Failure to achieve the ‘ideal’, 3) Being part of a community, and 4) Access to reliable health information. Participants described both positive and negative influences of engaging with fitspiration content. Overall, 17.7% of participants were classified as high risk for an eating disorder, 17.4% reported very high levels of psychological distress, and 10.3% were at risk of addictive exercise behaviours. Participants ( N = 180, 151 female, median age 23.0 years (IQR 19.0, 28.5)) most commonly accessed content posted by personal trainers and athletes (59.4%), posts tagged with the ‘fitspiration’ hashtag (53.9%) and posted by ‘everyday’ people (53.3%). ![]() Responses to open-ended questions were analysed for key themes using an iterative process of open, axial and thematic coding. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted for quantitative data. Participants also answered a series of open-ended questions about their experiences with fitspiration. Participants’ psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 10 Psychological Distress Scale (K10) disordered eating behaviours using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and compulsive exercise behaviours using the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI). Participants who access fitspiration content were recruited via social media to complete a cross-sectional online survey. This study aimed to 1) describe the types of fitspiration content that users access and how they engage with content, 2) investigate the disordered eating and exercise behaviours and psychological distress of individuals who access fitspiration, and 3) understand the perceived influence of fitspiration on health and wellbeing. ![]() Fitspiration is a popular social media trend containing images, quotes and advice related to exercise and healthy eating. ![]()
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