OPINION:
For some people, influencers have become their health experts of choice. This new breed of "health" influencers are perpetuating a toxic diet culture – and its convincing our most vulnerable.
As social media influencers transcend from aspirational to everyday, so too has the advice they give us. Influencers project what we think is unfiltered access to their lives and in return we give them control over our self-worth.
In late July, former Bachelorette Elly Miles gave her some 206,000 Instagram followers an insight into her Carnivore Diet. An Instagram Story decreed the level of toxicity of vegetables and other such dietary staples. Miles' post labelled avocados, berries, sweet fruit and cucumbers (sans skins and seeds) as less toxic than leafy greens, nuts and grains.
The backlash was rightfully swift and Miles quickly deleted her post. In a statement to WHO, Miles said "It sucks it's been taken this way and I'm sad I've upset people by it as well." She added that it was "absolutely devastating. My intention was to give people an example of the type of plants I'm able to implement into my diet during the challenge".
While I don't doubt the earnestness of Miles' apology, her step into dietary advice is a reminder of how unqualified individuals are exacerbating a dangerous fetishisation we have with diet culture.
Research reflected by Australia's only national charity for eating disorders, the Butterfly Foundation, shows that young people who diet moderately are...
Read Full Story: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/social-media-influencers-are-contributing-to-toxic-diet-culture/UV2K3AAKVI244LHKJ6BTZDMWCY/
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