So it seems to go the more followers you have the more influential you are. Here lies the question. Are you qualified to be influential? As a fitness professional who spends all day guiding people through correct nutrition and training I find myself seriously pondering how damaging social media has become In respect of fitness and nutrition for our children growing up, especially young girls.
As a mom and fitness expert it seriously worries me how my little girl will grow up in a world where girls posing in knickers with their butt out and filtered images of how you should look and your entire days eating is becoming the fitness social media norm from so called experts that do not have the experience or the knowledge to be giving advice to people especially our innocent young girls. Just because you lost weight or gained muscle does not give you the right to be advising others and sure you could say its just personal opinion but don’t you think there is an air of responsibility to young minds when you post something on social media?
At the best of times I think a lot of people have a bad relationship with food. We use it for comfort, we starve ourselves then we overeat, we start this diet, that diet the list is endless. But the constant barrage of “healthy” food pics of the steamed broccoli and chicken with the phrase “this is how I’m eating today #healthyeating’ is really worrying for a few main reasons. Firstly it is adding to our food disorders. There is no doubt that taking pictures of your food or keeping a food diary can be a great way to keep your food on track and not to allow treats and excess foods to kick in however, this is something that is used to get you in control not to be used as an ongoing exercise.
Secondly it is not a balanced meal. Steamed Chicken and broccoli is nutritious, but it is not a balanced meal. A balanced meal should consist of the right amount of carbs, fats and protein. Now try to explain to your teenage girl who may look at you sideways and think what does mom know this girl has a great body so she obviously knows better. Not minding that the latest pic of that so called fitness girl was filtered standing under a specific light, sucking her tummy in, in a pose that your muscles and bones will only let you stay in for the sake of a brief picture and god knows what else. No one actually looks like that..
So I ask the question does that so called fitness guru have any sense of responsibility about their young followers?