{"id":29135,"date":"2023-10-10T07:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T07:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=29135"},"modified":"2025-08-14T22:29:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T22:29:33","slug":"debunking-social-media-health-wellness-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/debunking-social-media-health-wellness-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"Debunking social media health and wellness trends","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve scrolled social media in the past year, you\u2019ve likely seen someone detailing what they ate that day, drinking powdered super greens in the morning or working through any number of intense fitness challenges.<\/p>\n

For those looking to improve their health, these posts can spark inspiration or motivation to try something new. But they can also encourage unhealthy behaviors \u2014 not just for our physical well-being, but also our mental health.<\/p>\n

\u2018What I eat in a day\u2019<\/h2>\n

While it may be interesting to see what others eat \u2014 especially if we\u2019re bored with our own meals \u2014 be leery of \u201cwhat I ate today\u201d videos, says Chelsey Lindahl, RDN, CD, health promotion and wellness manager for MultiCare\u2019s Center for Health Equity and Wellness.<\/p>\n

Pay attention to how and what these posts show and the messages they\u2019re trying to send, she says.<\/p>\n

\n

“I recommend people implement changes in small increments \u2014 one small change at a time that you can and want to sustain long term. If it\u2019s something you can only do for a short period, it\u2019s probably not the best option for you.\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Limiting language like \u201ccutting carbs\u201d or \u201creducing calories\u201d \u2014 or excluding entire food groups \u2014 has the potential to promote unhealthy views and relationships with food.<\/p>\n

But showing a variety of foods or well-balanced meals with a range of nutrients, or even destigmatizing cultural foods or those typically viewed as treats, can be a positive influence, Lindahl adds.<\/p>\n

If the content creator\u2019s focus is on what you can add to a meal to make it more nutritious and well-balanced, that can have a great impact on your mindset, she says.<\/p>\n

Food should be viewed as neutral. It\u2019s about providing your body with what it needs so you can feel your best and experience joy with eating, Lindahl says. What is best and nourishing for someone else may not be best for you, your budget or your schedule.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve scrolled social media in the past year, you\u2019ve likely seen someone detailing what they ate that day, drinking powdered super greens in the morning or working through any number of intense fitness challenges. For those looking to improve their health, these posts can spark inspiration or motivation to try something new. But they […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":115,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,127,87,95,99],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behavioral-health","category-healthy-living","category-nutrition-wellness","category-orthopedics","category-primary-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDebunking social media health trends - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Social media wellness trends can spark inspiration \u2014 but they can also encourage unhealthy behaviors. 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