Increase in body dysmorphia and eating disorders among adolescents due to social media

Abstract

In this review, analysis of the studies pertaining to the role of social media in body dissatisfaction eventually leading to body dysmorphia and eating disorders was conducted.Objective:The aim was to review how social media creates the urge of attaining unrealistic body images which is impossible in real life but possible in real-life.Methods:Different search mediums including PubMed, Sciencedirect, and Google Scholar were used in order to find out the effects of social media in influencing body dissatisfaction. The inclusion criteria were based on the selection of research articles from 2014-2021 which correlated social media with eating disorder & body dysmorphia. Additionally, the articles that were not original researches, abstract only and not in English were excluded. After exclusion of irrelevant sources, duplicated article, abstract only& articles published before 2014, Total 25 articles were selected for the purpose of systematic review. Result:As per this systematic review, body dysmorphia & eating disorders were related to high levels of social media addiction. Moreover, how much social media has negatively impacted both the physical health of young adults especially in regards to disordered eating patterns as well as mental health. Social comparison in order to attain unrealistic images on social media resulting in body dysmorphia and body dissatisfaction.Conclusion:By reviewing different studies and finding out the effects of social media in body dysmorphia it is revealed that social media can highly influence various types of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders.