The Dangers of Fitspiration in a Time of Body Positivity
It is not easy to know when something with good intention has gone too far. At what point does the promotion of health become the promotion of discrimination? In the 21st century it is often difficult to discern between good intentions through health communication and, attempts to gain money through representing products and services in media. Some would say that the movement from “thin”, as the ideal beauty, to “fit”, is one that is far more realistic, healthy and attainable for the individuals being bombarded by these health messages. The use of Instagram as a means to gain inspiration for fitness and health has skyrocketed due to its visually appealing design and ease of use for those toting a smart device. The concerns over warping body image due to the flood of unrealistic bodily representations is nothing new. This new wave of fitspiration as a health promotion strategy, suggesting lean muscle as the ideal body image for both men and women, encourages negative body image through the creation of unrealistic body norms and increasing comparison to others.
Fitspiration can be defined as “an online trend designed to inspire viewers towards a healthier lifestyle by promoting exercise and healthy food” (Tiggemann & Zaccardo, 2015). A well-meaning movement has shown negative repercussions in terms of body dissatisfaction, negative mood and lowered…
