TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of fitspiration content on body image
T2 - a systematic review
AU - Jerónimo, Flávio
AU - Carraça, Eliana Veiga
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Purpose: Fitspiration (also known as “fitspo”) aims to inspire individuals to exercise and have healthy habits, but emerging research indicates that exposure to it can have a negative impact on body image. This study aims to analyze the relationship between individuals’ exposure to fitspiration content and body image measures or associated variables (e.g., appearance comparison). Materials and methods: A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed papers published in English between 2000 and August 2022 was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar, based on the PICOS model. To be included, studies had to analyze the relationship between exposure to fitspiration content (I) and body image or associated variables (O) in adolescents and adults (P). Study methodological quality was assessed using an adaptation of the EPHPP Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Outcome data were synthesized narratively and by vote counting. Results: Twenty articles met the eligibility criteria and were included. Nineteen studies analyzed the relationship between fitspiration and body image, twelve analyzed the association between exposure to fitspiration and physical appearance comparison tendencies, and nine analyzed the association between fitspiration content and mood. One study analyzed the association between frequency of viewing fitspiration content and motives for exercise. Results showed that exposure to "fitspiration" increased individuals’ body dissatisfaction, physical appearance comparisons, and negative mood, especially in younger populations. Conclusions: Fitspiration has been seen as a new and prolific digital trend, considered beneficial for health. However, our results showed that fitspo is associated with negative body image, especially in younger populations that are more exposed to this content. Most of the studies were conducted in females and young age participants, which limits the extrapolation of results by gender and age. Future studies are needed to confirm and extend these findings. Level of Evidence: Level 1, Systematic Review.
AB - Purpose: Fitspiration (also known as “fitspo”) aims to inspire individuals to exercise and have healthy habits, but emerging research indicates that exposure to it can have a negative impact on body image. This study aims to analyze the relationship between individuals’ exposure to fitspiration content and body image measures or associated variables (e.g., appearance comparison). Materials and methods: A comprehensive search of peer-reviewed papers published in English between 2000 and August 2022 was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar, based on the PICOS model. To be included, studies had to analyze the relationship between exposure to fitspiration content (I) and body image or associated variables (O) in adolescents and adults (P). Study methodological quality was assessed using an adaptation of the EPHPP Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Outcome data were synthesized narratively and by vote counting. Results: Twenty articles met the eligibility criteria and were included. Nineteen studies analyzed the relationship between fitspiration and body image, twelve analyzed the association between exposure to fitspiration and physical appearance comparison tendencies, and nine analyzed the association between fitspiration content and mood. One study analyzed the association between frequency of viewing fitspiration content and motives for exercise. Results showed that exposure to "fitspiration" increased individuals’ body dissatisfaction, physical appearance comparisons, and negative mood, especially in younger populations. Conclusions: Fitspiration has been seen as a new and prolific digital trend, considered beneficial for health. However, our results showed that fitspo is associated with negative body image, especially in younger populations that are more exposed to this content. Most of the studies were conducted in females and young age participants, which limits the extrapolation of results by gender and age. Future studies are needed to confirm and extend these findings. Level of Evidence: Level 1, Systematic Review.
KW - Body image
KW - Fitspiration
KW - Mood
KW - Physical appearance comparison
KW - Social media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85142239433&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40519-022-01505-4
DO - 10.1007/s40519-022-01505-4
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36401082
AN - SCOPUS:85142239433
SN - 1124-4909
VL - 27
SP - 3017
EP - 3035
JO - Eating and Weight Disorders
JF - Eating and Weight Disorders
IS - 8
ER -