Navigating the TikTok Health Scene: A Closer Look at #healthylifestyle

There’s more to social media than meets the eye // Photo Credit: Free Pik.

TikTok is weirdly addictive.

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through TikTok, falling into a vortex of quirky dances, life hacks, and oddly satisfying videos?

We’ve all been there! TikTok’s strategic nature is often attributed to its clever algorithm, but is there a darker side lurking within the world of #healthylifestyle content?

Let’s dive into a recent study that explored just that.

Unveiling TikTok’s Health Landscape

Like other social media platforms, TikTok has been under scrutiny for potentially perpetuating diet culture. The question at hand: Can you explore health content on TikTok without being bombarded by the influence of diet culture?

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior set out to answer this.

Study Snapshot

The researchers delved into the 250 most-viewed videos under the hashtag #healthylifestyle. Their mission was to categorize these videos based on the messages they conveyed. The results were a mix of positivity and negativity surrounding health and body image.

The Yin and Yang of Health Messaging