Edited and carefully posed pictures by fitness influencers can contribute to anxiety and negative self-worth. Influencers are sending a potentially toxic message with far-reaching consequences to a mass audience.
Social media influencers give bad diet and fitness advice 8 times out of 9 - that's according to Glasgow University who studied self-appointed wellness 'experts' with more than 80,000 followers! Influencers who claim to be experts on food and fitness are damaging physical health, as well as mental health.
According to Penn State University, hyperreality occurs when you're unable to recognise the difference between reality and a simulation of reality. We've seen multiple celebrities and social media stars on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok posting workouts and 'what I eat in a day' posts, and many of their lives and figures always look so great – but don't get sucked into this hyperreality.
Samuel, an undergraduate student, paid £30 for a diet plan he saw on an influencer's page.
"He just took a one-off payment and it made me super skinny but I was always tired."
Realising something wasn't right, Samuel visited his doctor who explained that the amount of exercise he was performing did not match up with what he was eating.
"I was in a huge calorie deficit and it led me to being vitamin deficient."
Like many of us, Samuel found himself scrolling religiously through posts by people he believed were the ultimate fitness gurus.
Influencers who claim to be personal trainers are putting people's lives at risk. Amandeep paid for regular training sessions from an unnamed, unqualified personal trainer who pushed her too hard one day, resulting in a sprained ankle.
"She did no health and safety checks."
The alleged PT, who has more than 4,000 followers on Instagram, has not commented on these allegations and has not confirmed her 'qualifications'.
Samuel and Amandeep are just two of many who have fallen victim to scams and unrealistic fitness plans which ultimately, fail to fulfil consumers' expectations.
It's not surprising considering how easily misinformation can spread online. Look at the rise of Australian influencer, Belle Gibson, who scammed her followers into believing her diet cured her non-existing cancer.
Known as the 'The Great Insta Con', Belle Gibson seemed to have the perfect Instagram wellness profile, with over 300,000 followers and her posts were flooded with adoring comments.
Belle Gibson told the story of how she claimed to have"cured" her inoperable brain cancer by eating well after being told she had just four months to live.
But, the truth prevails. In March 2015, an Australian publication unveiled that Belle was deceiving her followers. She had also been falsely claiming that a portion of her book and app sales proceeds would be donated to charity.
Soon, journalists began to question and look into whether Belle was also deceiving people about her health.
Belle was hit with a £240,000 fine by the Australian Government in September 2017, for misleading readers about donating money to charity, after being convicted of five breaches of consumer law.
Of course, Belle's case is placed at the extreme end of the fake health advice spectrum. However, her story only illustrates the damage that influencers can cause.
According to dietitian, Bushra Sadaf: "People are more interested in getting dietary advice from social media rather than going to an actual dietitian."
"Home remedies like detox diets are very popular but a lot of these diets exclude the necessary foods and nutrients which are good for us.
"Dietary advice should only come from registered dietitians, and that should be on a case by case basis."
She explained: "There is nothing wrong with getting ideas from online but it must be confirmed with a professional before carrying these ideas out."
Puja Bhavsar is a specifications technologist who checks nutritional values and works on the calorie project for hospitality.
With a degree in food and nutrition science and extensive experience in the field, Puja is well-versed in this topic and highlights the dangers of social media influencers giving food and dietary advice. She said:
"Social media influencers often give advice which is more of a quick fix rather than a sustainable change.
"Every individual is different, their health, wellbeing and fitness goals are also different. Handing out advice, showing images of how it worked for them and encouraging others to also do the same is life threatening."
Social media influencers are often paid to promote diets that they are not knowledgeable of, and neither have a nutrition qualification. Puja explained that: "This does more harm than good."
"Currently within the UK, the title “nutritionist” does not have a protected title. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. It's important to seek nutrition and dietary advice from someone who has studied nutrition and is AfN accredited."
In England, more than 40% of adults gained weight during the pandemic. As a result, lockdowns have made people more vulnerable to the smoke and mirrors of wellbeing influencers.
Love Island's Josh Denzel is a prominent example as he stunned fans with his incredible six pack transformation, after gaining 10kg during lockdown. He captioned the shot of his two mirror selfies:
"6 weeks of focus, training 6 days a week with @cc_metabolicldn and a strict diet ~ 1200 calories a day saw me lose 12 kg and get in the shape of my life."
1200 calories? That's the average intake of a toddler! Showcasing his transformation through following a dangerously, low calorie deficit to his 1.2 million followers; Josh Denzel, like many influencers, contribute to fatal health issues people suffer when following inexpert advice.
Though we cannot put all the blame on Josh, as many influencers rushed to show their support for his efforts. Love Island 2019 star Francesca Allen commented: "Well done!!!!!"
Another Love Island star, Eyal Booker, wrote: "The dedication is inspiring. Looking 🔥 bro well done."
Cameron, a qualified personal trainer, has seen an increase in his clientele, specifically in young adults. He believes this is due to the pandemic and the rise of social media usage which has encouraged people to look and feel their best.
"Now more than ever people want to look the best versions of themselves."
Being an advocate of natural fitness, Cameron, like many of us doesn't agree with quick fixes and false fitness advice.
Explaining that his fellow personal trainer friends feel the same, he said:
"The severity of this situation must be brought to light as it isn't fully understood. Better regulation or laws need to be in place. I really fear for those who are following unprofessional diet and fitness plans.
"By not getting enough nutrients, they could be really damaging their bodies. For example, not having the right amounts of iron, folate or vitamin B can lead to anemia and feeling fatigue.
"Influencers who take steroids or surgery are creating bodies which aren't accessible naturally. If people are working hard but aren't getting the results they want, I'd definitely blame influencers for this."
People expect that following the same nutrition and weight loss plans as the influencer will allow them to look exactly like them. However, consumers fail to consider the editing apps, filters and surgical treatments they have also undertaken.
DISCLAIMER: There is no hatred towards those who choose to get cosmetic surgery. This article is solely focused on the negative effects of fake fitness and unqualified health advice.
The phenomenon of the out-of-control influencer industry is new and unregulated. Nowadays it is easier than ever for people to use photoshop and acquire surgery, to then preach and lie about how they got their unrealistic physique.
The Advertising Standards Authority have stopped clinics advertising cosmetic surgery, which poses the question whether it will push social media influencers to fill this vacuum. After speaking with the ASA, they said:
"We don’t regulate influencer activity outside of ads, and so we don’t have specific rules on claims about influencers being a fitness expert."
Early last year, the ASA named and shamed social media stars including Jodie Marsh, Chloe Khan, Lucy Mecklenburgh and Chloe Ferry. They repeatedly failed to comply with rules requiring them to tell followers when they were being paid to promote a product or service in a post.
In spite of this, don't let yourself be swayed into comparing yourself to other people on social media, even if you are not intending on buying influencer products and services.
Filters, lighting, editing and good photography mask the blemishes and imperfections. These factors as well as posing can make one appear to have the perfect body, when in fact, it is all strategically photographed.
Popular fitness influencer, Noel Deyzel, has recently spoken out against 'gymfluencers' who lie about their use of steroids to convince you that their bodies are attainable naturally:
"It's no wonder we have an entire generation that simply doesn't feel good enough."
When it comes to making a difference for your health and appearance, you might start cooking a little healthier, using a fitness tracker to count your calories, or go a little further on the treadmill.
However, it's important to keep in mind that constantly comparing yourself with influencers who appear to have perfect bodies and lives might push you to the extremes. It may lead you to embrace dangerous diets or steroids, which can be extremely harmful to our mental and physical health.
Don't let your self-esteem be influenced by others. Be active and eat healthy to feel good about yourself. Achieve the body and life that you want, for you. Not the one being pushed on you by marketing and the mass media. Don't fall into the hyperreality.
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