How Social Media Affects Teens’ Body Image and Eating Disorders
Written by Lily Thrope, LCSW
Growing up today looks very different from when many of us were teenagers. Social media, online influencers, fitness content, weight-loss messaging, and even artificial intelligence are shaping how teens think about their bodies, food, exercise, and self-worth.
As an eating disorder therapist, I see how important it is to understand the environment our teens are growing up in. Parents may be doing their best to create a supportive home, but their children are also exposed to messages from countless sources outside the home.
And those messages aren't always as obvious as they used to be. Instead of a magazine telling someone they need to lose weight, a teen might watch a creator share everything they eat in a day, see a before-and-after photo, or hear that a particular product will help them become a better version of themselves.
Over time, these messages can shape how teens view their bodies and their relationships with food.
In this episode of Full Recovery Is Possible, I joined Kelly Mosser to discuss the unique challenges teens face today, how social media can influence disordered eating, and what parents can do to help their children navigate these influences.
Here are some of the things I want parents and caregivers to understand.
How Social Media Has Changed the Way Teens See Themselves
When I think about the media many of us grew up with, I think about television shows we watched once a week. We connected with the characters, followed their stories, and then went back to our own lives.
Today, teens can follow the actors who play those characters on social media, seeing curated glimpses of their personal lives, routines, appearances, and habits.
This creates a different kind of relationship. Teens aren't just watching a character on a screen; they may feel connected to the person behind that character.
Social media can offer real benefits. It can help teens find communities of people who share their interests, values, or experiences, especially when they don't feel represented in their immediate surroundings.
But there's another side to that connection.
Social media content is still a form of presentation. Even when someone describes their content as authentic or unfiltered, they're choosing what to share and how to share it. We don't see their entire lives, and we often don't know the context behind what they're showing us.
When teens spend a lot of time scrolling, it can become harder to distinguish between what they're seeing online and what is relevant to their own lives. They may begin comparing themselves to people whose circumstances, bodies, experiences, and needs they know very little about.
That's why I think it's so important to help teens develop the ability to question what they're consuming rather than automatically accepting it as truth.
Why “What I Eat in a Day” Videos Can Be Harmful
One type of social media content I find particularly concerning is the “what I eat in a day” video.
These videos often present a person's daily food intake as an example to follow. The creator might show what they eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, sometimes connecting those choices to their appearance, fitness goals, or lifestyle.
The problem is that these videos can imply that there's one right way for everyone to eat.
A teen might watch someone they admire and think, “If I eat exactly like this person, I'll look like them, too.”
But we don't know everything about that person's life. We don't know their individual nutritional needs, health circumstances, genetics, activity level, or what they eat outside the content they've chosen to share.
And even if a creator genuinely believes their routine works for them, that doesn't mean it's appropriate for someone else.
These videos can also offer something that feels comforting: a set of rules to follow. Instead of figuring out what they want to eat, a teen may feel relieved that someone else has provided the answers.
But I want teens to have the opportunity to develop trust in themselves and their own needs.
Food doesn't have to be approached through a constant lens of good and bad. We can consider what sounds appealing, what feels satisfying, and what we want to experience. Maybe we're in the mood for something warm, crunchy, salty, or sweet. Our choices don't need to be dictated by a stranger's routine online.
When a teen becomes increasingly preoccupied with following someone else's food rules, it may be worth exploring how that content is affecting their relationship with eating.
How Diet Culture and Influencer Marketing Affect Body Image
Another type of content I find concerning is anything that suggests a person's value increases as they change the way they look.
This can include before-and-after photos, weight-loss transformations, beauty content, and advertisements that encourage people to feel dissatisfied with themselves so they'll want to buy a product.
Sometimes, the message is direct. Other times, it's more subtle.
A creator might show off their appearance, describe their routine, and promote a product that promises a similar result. A teen may begin to believe that looking a certain way is evidence that someone is more disciplined, successful, knowledgeable, or worthy of admiration.
The underlying message is that there's something wrong with you—and that you need to change it.
This is one of the ways diet culture continues to influence how people relate to their bodies. It creates a problem, presents an ideal, and offers a product or routine as the solution.
For teens who are already experiencing body dissatisfaction or struggling with an eating disorder, these messages can be particularly difficult to navigate.
I want parents to understand that this isn't just about whether a particular influencer is a good or bad role model. It's also about the broader messages teens are receiving about what makes someone valuable.
We can help them question the idea that their appearance is a measure of their worth, rather than accepting that message as a fact.
Is Fitness Content on Social Media Always Harmful?
Not at all. Movement can be an enjoyable and meaningful part of life, and fitness content can introduce teens to new activities, communities, and ways of experiencing their bodies.
What matters is the message behind the content and how a teen is relating to it.
Some fitness content focuses on strength, exploration, enjoyment, or the experience of doing something challenging. For example, someone might share a hike because they want to experience a beautiful place or celebrate what their body can do.
Other content focuses heavily on changing one's appearance, losing weight, or achieving a particular body through increasingly demanding routines.
That distinction matters.
When a teen watches fitness content, I encourage parents to consider whether it's inspiring them to explore movement in a way that feels enjoyable or reinforcing the belief that they need to change their body to have value.
You can also pay attention to how your teen feels after engaging with that content. Do they seem excited to try something new, or do they seem more anxious about their appearance and what they think they should be doing?
There isn't one universal answer for every teen. The goal is to help them recognize the difference between content that expands their interests and content that makes them feel as though they need to fix themselves.
Should Parents Take Social Media Away From Their Teens?
When parents become concerned about what their teens are seeing online, it's understandable to consider removing access to social media altogether.
But I don't think the answer is always as simple as taking something away.
When something becomes forbidden, it can become even more appealing. And social media isn't going away. It's part of the world teens are growing up in, which means we need to think about how to help them navigate it.
That doesn't mean every teen should have unrestricted access or that parents shouldn't establish boundaries. Age, individual needs, safety concerns, and the impact of social media on a particular teen all matter.
What I want to emphasize is the importance of helping teens develop discernment.
Can they recognize that a creator's advice might not be right for them? Can they question whether a recommendation is supported by reliable information? Can they notice when content is making them feel worse about themselves?
These are skills that can help them make decisions about what they consume rather than relying entirely on someone else to make those decisions for them.
Parents can also create opportunities for honest conversations about social media. Instead of only asking what their teen is watching, try exploring how the content makes them feel and what messages they're taking away from it.
The goal is to create an environment where teens can talk about what they're experiencing, ask questions, and seek guidance without feeling that they have to hide everything they see online.
Help Your Teen Curate a More Supportive Social Media Feed
One practical place to start is by looking at the accounts your teen follows and considering how those accounts affect them.
I use a similar approach with my own social media. I ask myself, “How do I feel when I see this person's content?”
If an account consistently makes me feel bad about myself or convinces me that I have problems I wasn't even thinking about before, I consider whether following that account is actually adding anything positive to my life.
The same question can be helpful for teens.
You might encourage your teen to think about:
Which accounts make them laugh, feel connected, or feel inspired?
Which accounts leave them feeling anxious, inadequate, or dissatisfied with their appearance?
Are they following someone because they genuinely enjoy the content or because they feel pressured to look or live a certain way?
Is the content offering useful information, or is it making them feel that something is wrong with them and needs to be fixed?
The goal isn't to police every account or tell your teen what they're allowed to enjoy. It's to help them become more aware of how their online environment affects them.
You can also encourage them to follow accounts centered on creativity, humor, hobbies, and communities that help them feel connected to other people.
Social media doesn't have to be a constant source of comparison. With greater awareness, it can also be a place to discover interests and find people who make life feel a little less lonely.
What Parents Should Know About GLP-1 Messaging and Teens
Another influence parents should be aware of is the amount of messaging about GLP-1 medications and weight loss appearing online.
In this episode, I shared my concern about the way some messaging can frame body dissatisfaction as a problem with a simple solution. Someone in a larger body, or someone who feels unhappy with their appearance, may repeatedly encounter the suggestion that there's an easy answer—and that they should pursue it.
That kind of messaging can make people feel as though they need to change their bodies, and that choosing not to pursue a particular intervention means they're making the wrong decision.
I think this conversation requires nuance. Medical decisions are personal and should be made with qualified healthcare professionals who can consider an individual's circumstances, needs, and the available evidence.
What concerns me is when advertisements and social media content replace thoughtful decision-making with the idea that one solution is right for everyone.
Teens are still developing their ability to evaluate information and make decisions about their health. They need opportunities to ask questions, consider different perspectives, and understand that an advertisement is not the same as individualized medical guidance.
Parents can help by encouraging their teens to pause before accepting health and weight-related claims as facts. If a post raises questions about medication, nutrition, or health, a qualified healthcare professional is a better source of individualized guidance than an influencer or advertisement.
Most importantly, teens deserve to understand that their worth isn't dependent on their weight or whether they pursue a particular body-changing intervention.
How AI Can Influence Disordered Eating
Artificial intelligence is becoming another source of information for teens, including information about food, exercise, health, and mental health.
AI tools can have useful applications, but I have concerns about relying on them for guidance in areas where professional expertise and individualized care matter.
For example, a teen might ask a chatbot for a diet or exercise routine and receive recommendations that aren't appropriate for their needs. The fact that an answer sounds confident doesn't mean it's accurate, safe, or suitable for that person.
This is especially important when someone is experiencing disordered eating or struggling with their mental health. A chatbot isn't a substitute for a trained professional who can understand the context of someone's experience, recognize warning signs, and provide appropriate support.
I want teens to develop the same discernment with AI that they need when using social media.
They should be able to question where information comes from, recognize the limits of the tool, and understand when a situation calls for help from a qualified professional.
For parents, this can be another opportunity to talk with your teen about how they use technology and what kinds of questions are appropriate to bring to an AI tool versus a healthcare provider.
We don't need to assume every use of AI is harmful. But we do need to recognize that it has limitations, especially when it comes to personal health and mental health.
Why In-Person Connection and Play Still Matter
One of my biggest concerns about the way teens are growing up today is that so much of their social lives can happen online.
Social media can help young people find communities they might not otherwise have access to. But online interaction shouldn't have to replace in-person connection entirely.
I want teens to have opportunities to experience the world beyond a screen, to develop friendships, explore interests, try new things, and enjoy activities without feeling that every moment needs to be documented or presented in a particular way.
This might look like taking a class, joining a sports team, trying a creative hobby, spending time at the beach, or simply getting together with friends.
The specific activity isn't what matters most. It's creating opportunities for teens to experience connection, enjoyment, and a sense of belonging in their everyday lives.
I also want to bring more playfulness back into the conversation. Teens are navigating so many messages about achievement, appearance, and how they should present themselves. They deserve space to do things simply because they're fun.
For parents, this can mean helping your teen discover activities they genuinely enjoy and making room for experiences that aren't centered on productivity, appearance, or performance.
These experiences won't eliminate every difficult influence, but they can help teens build a fuller life beyond what they see online.
How Parents Can Help Teens Navigate Social Media and Eating Disorder Risk
Parents can't control every message their teens encounter, and trying to eliminate every potential source of harm isn't realistic.
But you can help your teen build the skills they need to navigate those messages.
Here are a few places to start:
1. Talk about how content makes them feel. Rather than focusing only on what your teen is viewing, ask how they feel after spending time online. Do they feel connected and entertained, or do they feel more anxious about their bodies and what they eat?
2. Encourage questions instead of automatic acceptance. Help your teen recognize that an influencer's food routine, exercise plan, or health recommendation isn't necessarily right for them. Encourage them to seek reliable information and professional guidance when needed.
3. Model a thoughtful relationship with social media. You can also reflect on your own feed and the way you respond to online messages about bodies, food, and appearance. Teens learn from the way adults navigate these influences, too.
4. Make room for offline connection. Help your teen explore hobbies, friendships, and activities that give them opportunities to connect with people and enjoy themselves outside of social media.
5. Take changes in eating and body image seriously. If you notice increasing food preoccupation, rigid exercise, distress about body changes, or other concerning behaviors, consider reaching out to an eating disorder-informed professional. You don't need to wait until you're certain there's a problem to ask for guidance.
And remember that you don't have to navigate this alone. The digital world is changing quickly, and parents are learning alongside their teens. Seeking support is a way to help your family make sense of these influences together.
Final Thoughts: Helping Teens Trust Themselves in a World Full of Outside Opinions
Social media, online advertising, fitness content, weight-loss messaging, and AI are all part of the environment today's teens are growing up in.
Some of these tools can offer connection, creativity, and useful information. Others can leave teens feeling that they aren't good enough and need to change their bodies, eating habits, or lives to become more valuable.
I don't believe the goal is to eliminate every difficult influence. Instead, I want to help teens develop the ability to question what they see, recognize what feels right for them, and seek support when they need it.
For parents, that starts with creating space for honest conversations, modeling a more compassionate relationship with food and bodies, and helping teens develop meaningful connections beyond the online world.
We are still learning about the effects of these relatively new technologies and how best to navigate them. You don't need to have every answer right now.
If you're concerned about your teen's relationship with food, exercise, or their body, an eating disorder-informed professional can help you understand what you're seeing and explore appropriate next steps.
Your teen doesn't have to figure all of this out alone, and neither do you.
Eating Disorder Support for Teens and Families at Thrope Therapy
At Thrope Therapy, we support teens and families navigating eating disorders, disordered eating, body image concerns, and the pressures that can influence a young person's relationship with food and their body.
If you're worried about the impact of social media or other outside influences on your teen, you don't need to wait until things become more serious to seek guidance.
Reach out to Thrope Therapy to learn more about eating disorder support for teens and families. Together, we can explore ways to support your teen's recovery and help them develop a more compassionate relationship with food and their body.
Listen to Full Recovery Is Possible
In this episode of Full Recovery Is Possible, I joined Kelly Mosser to discuss the unique challenges teens face today, including social media, “what I eat in a day” videos, fitness content, GLP-1 messaging, and AI.
We also talk about helping teens develop discernment, creating a more supportive online environment, and encouraging connection and enjoyment beyond the screen.
Listen to the episode to hear more of our conversation and learn how parents can help teens navigate these influences.
