‘Skinny Tok’ A disturbing rise in eating disorders
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A disturbing trend has emerged on TikTok, known as "Skinny Tok," where users promote extreme thinness under the guise of wellness and lifestyle advice. This movement, led by a number of influences, has sparked widespread concern about its potential to normalise disordered eating and perpetuate negative body image.
What is Skinny Tok?
Skinny Tok is a trend that promotes extreme calorie restriction and regular body checks, where users document their shrinking bodies. Proponents of this trend share very low-calorie diets and frame weight loss and extreme thinness as the ultimate sign of health.
The trend is currently active on TikTok, with over 74,000 videos shared under the #skinnytok hashtag.
Chief of Clinical Psychology at Turning Point Mental Services, Mrs Mbali Mthembu, highlights the concerning impact of such trends, stating: “Social media platforms like TikTok often present unrealistic beauty standards, glorifying thinness and promoting unhealthy dieting habits. Young people, particularly girls, are frequently exposed to this content, which can trigger disordered eating behaviours like restrictive dieting and excessive exercising.”
The portrayal of these unrealistic beauty standards can lead to body dissatisfaction among teenagers. They may feel their bodies do not measure up to the ideals they see online, resulting in lower self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Mthembu explains: “Young people begin to think that their body weight is not ideal, even if they are at a healthy weight. They might develop a distorted view of their body shape, leading to dissatisfaction and severe mental health issues.”
Mthembu's practice has seen a rise in cases of young individuals struggling with body image issues and eating disorders.
She notes: “We have observed an increasing number of young people trying to cope with eating disorders. Many feel dissatisfied with their body shape and weight, often influenced by what they consume on social media.”
Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach. One key strategy is fostering open, non-judgmental discussions about body image and the content young people are exposed to online.
“Encouraging open conversations about how social media can affect their perception of body image is crucial,” Mthembu says. “Reassuring young people and highlighting their positive attributes, unrelated to their body weight, can help build self-esteem.”
Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in monitoring their children's media consumption and ensuring they understand the unrealistic nature of the content they view. Mthembu advises, “It's important for parents to check in with their children regularly, discussing their meals and being sensitive about commenting on their body weight. Highlighting other positive features, like their intelligence or kindness, can be more constructive.”
Furthermore, implementing parental control measures to monitor and limit exposure to harmful content can help.
“Parents can use features that block certain content and monitor the amount of time their children spend online. This helps in reducing the exposure to potentially harmful trends such as Skinny Tok,” Mthembu advises.
Education around responsible social media use is also vital. “Teaching young people to critically evaluate the content they come across on social media and understand the unrealistic expectations it sets is essential,” emphasises Mthembu. “Schools can contribute by providing resources and support through counselling services to help reduce the stigma around eating disorders and promote healthy body image.”
Bullying, a significant factor contributing to body image issues, must also be addressed. Providing a safe space where young people can speak openly about their experiences and concerns is crucial. “Allowing children and teenagers to express their worries without judgment can help uncover underlying issues, including bullying, that may contribute to disordered eating,” Mthembu points out.
What is Skinny Tok?
Skinny Tok is a trend that promotes extreme calorie restriction and regular body checks, where users document their shrinking bodies. Proponents of this trend share very low-calorie diets and frame weight loss and extreme thinness as the ultimate sign of health.
The trend is currently active on TikTok, with over 74,000 videos shared under the #skinnytok hashtag.
Chief of Clinical Psychology at Turning Point Mental Services, Mrs Mbali Mthembu, highlights the concerning impact of such trends, stating: “Social media platforms like TikTok often present unrealistic beauty standards, glorifying thinness and promoting unhealthy dieting habits. Young people, particularly girls, are frequently exposed to this content, which can trigger disordered eating behaviours like restrictive dieting and excessive exercising.”
The portrayal of these unrealistic beauty standards can lead to body dissatisfaction among teenagers. They may feel their bodies do not measure up to the ideals they see online, resulting in lower self-esteem, depression and anxiety. Mthembu explains: “Young people begin to think that their body weight is not ideal, even if they are at a healthy weight. They might develop a distorted view of their body shape, leading to dissatisfaction and severe mental health issues.”
Mthembu's practice has seen a rise in cases of young individuals struggling with body image issues and eating disorders.
She notes: “We have observed an increasing number of young people trying to cope with eating disorders. Many feel dissatisfied with their body shape and weight, often influenced by what they consume on social media.”
Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach. One key strategy is fostering open, non-judgmental discussions about body image and the content young people are exposed to online.
“Encouraging open conversations about how social media can affect their perception of body image is crucial,” Mthembu says. “Reassuring young people and highlighting their positive attributes, unrelated to their body weight, can help build self-esteem.”
Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in monitoring their children's media consumption and ensuring they understand the unrealistic nature of the content they view. Mthembu advises, “It's important for parents to check in with their children regularly, discussing their meals and being sensitive about commenting on their body weight. Highlighting other positive features, like their intelligence or kindness, can be more constructive.”
Furthermore, implementing parental control measures to monitor and limit exposure to harmful content can help.
“Parents can use features that block certain content and monitor the amount of time their children spend online. This helps in reducing the exposure to potentially harmful trends such as Skinny Tok,” Mthembu advises.
Education around responsible social media use is also vital. “Teaching young people to critically evaluate the content they come across on social media and understand the unrealistic expectations it sets is essential,” emphasises Mthembu. “Schools can contribute by providing resources and support through counselling services to help reduce the stigma around eating disorders and promote healthy body image.”
Bullying, a significant factor contributing to body image issues, must also be addressed. Providing a safe space where young people can speak openly about their experiences and concerns is crucial. “Allowing children and teenagers to express their worries without judgment can help uncover underlying issues, including bullying, that may contribute to disordered eating,” Mthembu points out.