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Chapter 6 - Exercise, Fitspiration, and the Role of Social Media

from Section 1 - From Exercise to Addiction: An Introduction to the Phenomenon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2023

By
Ilaria De Luca ,
Dorotea Cicconcelli ,
Valentina Giorgetti  and
Ornella Corazza
Edited by
Ornella Corazza  and
Artemisa Rocha Dores
Ornella Corazza
Affiliation:
University of Hertfordshire and University of Trento, Italy
Artemisa Rocha Dores
Affiliation:
Polytechnic Institute of Porto and University of Porto, Portugal
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Summary

Following the exponential increase in Internet use over recent decades, social networking sites have become a major source of information and inspiration. These networks have a crucial role in defining beauty standards and sharing new trends and ideas, especially among adolescents and young adults. The concept of ‘fitspiration’ (a combination of the words ‘fitness’ and ‘inspiration’) encourages people to engage in physical activity and adopt a healthy lifestyle. This chapter discusses how fitspiration’s emphasis on well-being, having a fit body, and healthy lifestyle has made potentially pathological behaviours, such as dietary restriction, substance misuse, and overexercising, socially acceptable. The potential physical and psychological risks to fitspiration users, including unsupervised supplement intake, body image disturbances, eating disorders, physical and mental burnout, social isolation, and feelings of weakness and worthlessness, are analysed. The need to further elucidate the potentially harmful effects of social network content and develop preventive mental health strategies is highlighted.

Keywords

body dissatisfactionexercise addictionfitspirationimage- and performance-enhancing drugssocial mediasupplement misuse
Type
Chapter
Information
The Body in the Mind
Exercise Addiction, Body Image and the Use of Enhancement Drugs
 , pp. 93 - 102
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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