Strong is the new skinny: A content analysis of fitspiration websites

Boepple, Leah; Ata, Rheanna N.; Rum, Ruba; Thompson, J. Kevin

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.03.001

Cited by 171 publications

(133 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

126

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Two recent studies analyzed fitspiration websites; finding that these websites contain similar content to thinspiration websites, mostly depict women (>90% of images), and include objectified and sexualized women who are objectively thin [3,20]. However, it is unclear whether any social media–based fitspiration was included in these website analyses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, it is unclear whether any social media–based fitspiration was included in these website analyses. In addition, gendered comparisons were absent from these studies [3,20], presumably as the majority of website-based content depicted women. Due to the popularity of fitspiration on social media, and its potential to facilitate peer-based body comparisons and reinforce social norms around health and fitness [5], it is also important to also study social media–based fitspiration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

“Fitspiration” on Social Media: A Content Analysis of Gendered Images

Carrotte¹,

Prichard²,

Lim³

2017

J Med Internet Res

208

158

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background “Fitspiration” (also known as “fitspo”) aims to inspire individuals to exercise and be healthy, but emerging research indicates exposure can negatively impact female body image. Fitspiration is frequently accessed on social media; however, it is currently unclear the degree to which messages about body image and exercise differ by gender of the subject. Objective The aim of our study was to conduct a content analysis to identify the characteristics of fitspiration content posted across social media and whether this differs according to subject gender. Methods Content tagged with #fitspo across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr was extracted over a composite 30-minute period. All posts were analyzed by 2 independent coders according to a codebook. Results Of the 415/476 (87.2%) relevant posts extracted, most posts were on Instagram (360/415, 86.8%). Most posts (308/415, 74.2%) related thematically to exercise, and 81/415 (19.6%) related thematically to food. In total, 151 (36.4%) posts depicted only female subjects and 114/415 (27.5%) depicted only male subjects. Female subjects were typically thin but toned; male subjects were often muscular or hypermuscular. Within the images, female subjects were significantly more likely to be aged under 25 years ( P <.001) than the male subjects, to have their full body visible ( P =.001), and to have their buttocks emphasized ( P <.001). Male subjects were more likely to have their face visible in the post ( P =.005) than the female subjects. Female subjects were more likely to be sexualized than the male subjects ( P =.002). Conclusions Female #fitspo subjects typically adhered to the thin or athletic ideal, and male subjects typically adhered to the muscular ideal. Future research and interventional efforts should consider the potential objectifying messages in fitspiration, as it relates to both female and male body image.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Fitspiration” on Social Media: A Content Analysis of Gendered Images

Carrotte¹,

Prichard²,

Lim³

2017

J Med Internet Res

208

158

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Women are nowadays subject to increasingly rigorous body ideals (e.g. low fat percentage, lean muscle) and lifestyle ideals (intensive physical activity) propagated by current gendered trends such as “fitspiration” [30], and the recreational athletes seem to have internalized these ideals to a larger extent than the competitive athletes. Thin ideals propagating extreme thinness may be more harmful to female recreational athletes than athletic ideals lauding lean muscle [31].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I don’t need a flat tummy; I just want to run fast” – self-understanding and bodily identity of women in competitive and recreational sports

Roessler

Muller

2018

BMC Women's Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundWomen who exercise intensively, whether competitive or recreational, devote a lot of time and energy into exercise, which requires high levels of ambition and motivation. The aim of the study is to investigate the self-understanding and bodily identity of different (competitive vs recreational) forms of exercise, and to investigate the role of important others (parents, siblings and social relations) for this self-understanding.MethodsA qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. An interactional psychodynamic framework informed the development of the interview questions focusing on the influence of their family, peers, and the meaning of exercise for their identity. Participants were recruited via local training centers and via the Danish Athletic Sports Association. A total of twenty highly physically active female athletes were interviewed, ten of whom participated in competitions (“competitve athletes”) and ten of whom did not (“recreational athletes”).ResultsSelf-related and social similarities and differences between competitive athletes and recreational athletes were found. Recreational athletes had supportive but not ambitious parents and used sport to reinforce their bodily self-efficacy and identity, while competitive athletes had highly engaged parents, especially fathers, and competed to externalize their identities as athletes. Correspondingly, the meaning of exercise was the activity itself, for recreational athletes, while competition was the means to the end of achievement, for competitive athletes.ConclusionAll athletes are affected and triggered by their biography and their environment. The biographical tradition of sport culture must be recognized as important for the engagement in different forms of physical activity in health and competition settings. If research can make the conflicts and relations of the self visible in sports culture, this could strengthen the recognition that the overall bodily well-being of athletes is important for women’s health.

show abstract

“…Research shows that exposure to social media and "fitspiration" posts lead to more body comparisons and lower self-esteem, specifically in women [11,12,20]. With the increase in the number of social media outlets and time spent on them, the reach of SM is expanding to include younger adolescent girls [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results from these studies have found unfavorable effects, especially related to posting and viewing photos, of social media use on mental health, including: negative mood self-objectification, body dissatisfaction, social comparison, eating behaviors, decreased self-esteem, weight dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and peer competition [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Even "fitspiration" images and posts that aim to inspire people to live healthy and fit lifestyles reinforce the over-valuation of physical appearance, eating concerns, and excessive exercise that could have serious negative implications on adolescents psychological and emotional health [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%