A disturbing trend called “Skinnytok” is accumulating millions of views in Tiktok, Instagram, Reddit and YouTube, pushing extreme weight loss, restrictive food and toxic “discipline” such as the path to happiness, or the last.
And it is sending vulnerable users for a dangerous spiral, experts and survivors warn.
“I know if I had seen that [advice] When I was younger, I would have thought that I also needed it, “a positive influencer for the body and survivor of eating disorder told today.
At first glance, Tiktok seems to discourage the trend. The search for “Skinnytok” causes a message: “You are more than your weight”, along with the leftist disorder resources to eat.
But it scrolls even more and the platform serves endless “Motivation” Videos Dangerous: Save meals, drink coffee to stop hunger, celebrate calorie deficits.
Some slogans read like parodies or self -harm:
“If your stomach grows, pretend that he is applauding you.”
“Be small, eat small. To be big, eat big.”
“You don’t need a gift. You’re not a dog.”
It is triggering the main medical red flags, according to the specialist in Internal Medicine, Dr. Ali Cheema, who marked the tendency to Forbes, including the glorification of hunger and the reduction of food to a utility without soul.
Experts say that it is a brand change of the “pro-Aan” communities (proanorexia) of the beginning of 200,000 (proanorexia), now with a brightness of the Z generation.
“This mentality rules out the complex realities of genetics, mental health and socioconic factors, the shame of the promotion of support. It is a toxic narrative disguised as empowerment,” said Stephen Buchwald of Manhattan Mental Health, to Forbes.
Tiktok’s guidelines say the application “does not allow you to show or promotion of disorderly food and dangerous weight loss behaviors.” And users can filter activation hashtags.
Even so, the content that pushes “potentially harmful weight management” can remain restricted to users of about 18 years and retired from the page for their
And this child of culture fed by shame is not only ineffective, it is dangerous.
“Seeing cured and unrealistic images of thinness in a basic daily can make people feel they are never” good enough. “This creates a cycle of self -criticism and low self -esteem, which can become anxiety and depression,” Buchwald told Forbes.
He added that teenagers are especially at risk.
“Adolescents are neurological connected to see the approach and belonging, which makes the issues vulnerable to trends such as’ Skinnytok.” “
Despite the violent reaction to fatalphobia and diet culture, “Skinnytok” demonstrates that the thin ideal does not go anywhere.
“Skinnytok is just another version of something we’ve seen in the past,” said author Martha Laham When chatting with today.
“The types of media and how we follow it can be new, but the thin ideal always has a leg there.”
“Even if some of the creators have good intentions, they are some nutritional tips, what they should not do,” said Andrea Mathis, dietitian and blogger for beautiful meals and things.
“Maybe it starts in a way, but the more you do it with that mentality, it can become an obsession,” he said to the site.
And the accident diet does not even work, said Maria Abihanna, an expert in Food Label Maker.
“People blame the willpower when they cannot keep a diet. The truth is that their body is built to resist the rapid loss of fat,” said Abihanna.
“This is where things begin to enter disorderly territory,” said Edwards-Gayfield to Today. “It’s time to get help.”