Until a few months ago, my internet search history was sprinkled with curious questions such as “how much protein is there in a guava?” or “nutrients in broccoli”. When my social feeds were filled with health and food influencers constantly talking about making recipes healthier, I also jumped on the bandwagon. Proteinmaxxing and fibremaxxing became real goals. Soon, realisation dawned that I was not alone. Like with most other aspects of our lives, social media has also had a significant influence on our eating habits – in both good and bad ways. A study published in Mental Health Science, which surveyed over a thousand people, found that more than half of the participants had altered their dietary habits due to social media. It also showed that nearly 75% of the participants were inspired to make healthy choices because of watching content depicting healthy food.
How social media influences you depends, largely, on the algorithm.
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But there is a flip side as well. Studies show that a larger number of people are lured into binging on junk food by the same social media. So, you could say that how social media influences you depends largely on the algorithm. The bright sideRosemary Chettupuzha, a food vlogger from @hoggers.in, talked about how the trend has actually helped her understand what exactly she is eating. “There’s been an increase in influencers and even doctors talking about a health-conscious approach to food. When they break down the ingredients in some of our favourite snacks, we realise what we are actually consuming. It has helped me cut down on some foods,” she says.Turns out our elders were right when they asked us not to eat in front of the TV. Studies have shown how visual stimulation, scrolling and mindless snacking, along with algorithm-driven exposure to fast food, push us to eat more. The visual stimulation is also shown to distract us from internal fullness cues, leading to larger portion sizes and overconsumptionEating healthySocial media is an everyday part of our society now, and it definitely influences multiple aspects of how society works and has evolved over time. You see an Instagram story or tweet by your friend flexing in a gym mirror with a protein shake in hand. Unsatisfied with your lifestyle choices, you delete food delivery apps and start counting your calories.
