INSTAGRAM INTRODUCES NEW BODY-POSITIVE RESTRICTIONS

By Hannah Holtmeyer

 Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking service that was launched in
October of 2010.  If you follow even a few Instagram influencers and have scrolled through their posts, especially during the “bikini season” summer months, you have probably noticed an overwhelming number of sponsored posts for various weight-loss teas and supplements or detox products. These products claim to suppress appetite and increase weight-loss among many other claims. Countless celebrities promote these teas, most of whom are among the most followed accounts on the social media platform. Celebrities are not alone in sharing these posts though. Many non-famous, less influential people have joined in on the trend. How effective are these products? Are they worth the cost? And most importantly, what kind of influence do these posts have on the physical and mental health of adolescent and teen social media users?


Photos from Instagram

Many people believe that these products can be a quick fix to achieve a body like their promoters. These products can be considered a type of fad diet. Fad diets can be dangerous because they lack adequate nutrition and/or they can introduce unhealthy substances into the body. A product that promises to allow someone to lose weight quickly should be investigated before use. The proper way to achieve a healthy weight is through a balanced diet and adequate exercise. These weight-loss and detox products put an unrealistic and unattainable goal into the minds of consumers by allowing them to believe that simply replacing meals with the products can result in similar outcomes. In actuality, many of the social media influencers who promote these products have nutritionists, personal trainers, and surgeons to help them achieve their bodies. They are not simply consuming the products that they promote.

A study published in March of this year found that social media exposure to unhealthy foods immediately increased calorie intake, especially from unhealthy foods. Even when healthy foods were influenced by famous YouTube vloggers, they were still not chosen by adolescents over their unhealthy counterparts. This brings up the question: if adolescents cannot be swayed to make healthy choices, even if they are promoted by celebrities, does celebrity influence further encourage unhealthy choices?


Photos from Instagram

It is estimated that approximately 57 million Instagram users are under the age of 18. Instagram his finally taken a stand on the concerns involving the impact of diet, detox, and cosmetic surgery content. This content can have a hugely negative impact on young people, including their mental health and body image as well as physical health. Recently, in September of this year, Instagram placed tighter restrictions on posts related to diet products and cosmetic surgery. These restrictions are based primarily on the age settings of the viewer’s account. The new rules hide posts that promote the use of weight-loss products or cosmetic procedure including a price from any user under the age of 18.

If you’re anything like me, you have just spent quite a while on Instagram to look for these posts. You’re probably over the age of 18.  So why you can’t find any of these posts that took over your feed not so long ago? In addition to hiding future posts, Instagram has also removed any content that made an unbelievable claim about weight-loss or diet products that was linked with a discount code or other company offer.

What can we do to further this movement? Instagram has added an option to report a post that violates these new guidelines. This feature allows Instagram to further investigate the post and determine its appropriateness. They will take action to remove the posts if determined to be in violation of the guidelines.

These new rules are a large steps towards reducing the pressure to be perfect that often comes with social media use. Instagram has created these guidelines to address mental health, but we can take the impact much further. By discouraging the use of the potentially harmful products, physical health can be improved for members of all age groups as well.

Sources:

Bell, Louis M. “How Does Social Media Influence Children's Choice of Foods?” New England Journal of Medicine, 11 Mar. 2019, https://www.jwatch.org/na48686/2019/03/11/how-does-social-media-influence-childrens-choice-foods.

Dall'Asen, Nicola. “Jameela Jamil Went Off On Celebrities Who Promote Weight-Loss Tea.” Revelist, 26 Nov. 2018, https://www.revelist.com/body-positive/jameela-jamil-went-off-on/14101.

“Instagram Tightens Rules on Diet and Cosmetic Surgery Posts.” The Guardian, PA Media, 18 Sept. 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/18/instagram-tightens-rules-on-diet-and-cosmetic-surgery-posts.

Worthy, Paige. “Top Instagram Demographics That Matter to Social Media Marketers.” Hootsuite, 26 Sept. 2018, https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-demographics/.

Thanks & Giving: A Day of Gratitude, Mindfulness, & Simple Pleasures

By Kylie Kain

(Practicing mindfulness in Shaw Park last Thanksgiving, 2018)

I have always been someone who likes to stay busy. I tend to overfill my plate (no pun intended!), and I often have to remind myself to pause, to center myself, and to give myself a break. Mindfulness is something I continue to practice and don’t think I will ever 100% master, because it is tough stuff! 

Being a dietetic intern by day and a grad student by night is mentally taxing. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to decompress from all of the personal stressors we have going on in our lives. It is an opportunity to remind ourselves how much we can appreciate the simple things in life- health, family, friends, whole foods, and football! 

Let’s celebrate gratitude, mindfulness, and simple pleasures this Thanksgiving!

Ways to Celebrate Gratitude

• Volunteer with friends or family at a local food pantry, church, soup kitchen, or Meals on Wheels. The few-hour time commitment is always outweighed by the benefits. 
• Tell a friend or family member why you are grateful for him/her. Even writing down a few kind, heart spoken words to share with someone else can be such a powerful gesture. 
• Make a donation. If you can’t volunteer your time, you might consider donating gently used clothes, canned goods, or as little as $5 of cash to an organization in need. Your small sacrifice could be someone else’s treasure.

Ways to Celebrate Mindfulness

• Take some time to yourself. As student interns, we are constantly juggling assignments and tracking deadlines. Feeling rushed and stressed makes it difficult to pause and notice internal cues. Take some time to increase self-awareness, whether it is going for a long walk/jog, or simply lying in bed an extra 30-45 minutes. Reflect and assess where you are at, both mentally and physically. 
• Be fully present. We can all get caught up in worrying about the future, dwelling on the past or otherwise preoccupied with whatever is consuming our thoughts. Try to let go of your inner narrative, interpretations, and judgements so that you can focus your attention on what is happening in the present moment. 
• Practice self-care. Take this time to engage in physical activities that you enjoy, drink plenty of water, satisfy your appetite and get plenty of rest.  

Ways to Celebrate Simple Pleasures

• Keep the menu simple. Life can get complicated and chaotic at times, but there is absolutely nothing complicated about a Thanksgiving dinner. Foods are delicious and nutritious simply prepared, without all of the fluffernutter. Quite literally though - mashed whole sweet potatoes sans marshmallows and candied pecans are simply delicious!
• Reconnect with family. Sometimes as we grow older, we may feel as though we’ve fallen out of touch with cousins and other close relatives. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to reconnect, share many laughs, and show support for one another. 
• Organize a fun activity, like a touch football game, charades, or participate as a family in a turkey trot run. Some of my fondest memories come from friendly (usually!) family competitions.

My experiences as an intern thus far, especially in the clinical setting, have reminded me of the many simple things I have to be grateful for. This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for a healthy family, a healthy plate, and a healthy mind/body. 

When I am feeling overwhelmed with tests, projects, and presentations, I have found that showing gratitude, practicing mindfulness, and carving out time for simple pleasures can help me stay centered. It is definitely a work in progress, but I hope a few of my tips will help you too! : ) 

Wishing everyone a warm & relaxing Thanksgiving. Cheers!

(Vegetable “Turkey” Platter my mom and I made together on Thanksgiving, 2018)