The Struggle Over Diet Trends and Women's Nutrition in the United States

How have women in the U.S. promoted, resisted, and otherwise responded to diet trends on social media? Fad diets have been present for decades, and are generally targeted towards women. Many women in the early 2000s were encouraged to try fad diets due to the diet culture that heavily promoted the thin ideal, and produced societal norms that are still common today.
As social media has developed, it has become a new way to share diets and lifestyle habits. Women are more likely than men to use social media, especially image-based platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram, so they are more likely to be exposed to potentially harmful diet content. This issue is especially concerning for adolescent females, who are more susceptible to peer influences and social norms shared over social media. Body image concerns are extremely common among this group, which can be worsened by high exposure to diet media. The top risk factor for being diagnosed with an eating disorder is being an adolescent female. Frequent dieting or diet changes are additional risk factors for developing an eating disorder. Eating disorders can have severe outcomes, such as strain on social relationships, lasting health issues, and risk of death. Many women’s posts regarding fad diets online are negative; some actively counteract harmful narratives from dieting communities, while others bring awareness to the issue. Numerous diet companies utilize social media influencers to market their products, although it is not always obvious that something is being advertised. Common diet products include supplements, diet pills, detox teas and superfood powders. These are generally not regulated by the FDA and not sustainable methods of weight management long-term. Dietitians have also begun sharing advice online, improving accessibility to correct and helpful information.

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

STS Advisor: Peter Norton