Health. SkinnyTok hashtag: a dangerous social media trend that promotes extreme thinness

“I hope what you ate was worth being fat this summer”; “If your stomach is growling, you’re already applauding yourself”; “When you feel like snacking, remember Kate Moss’s line: nothing tastes as good as being thin”; “You’re not ugly, you’re just fat”… These phrases are not taken from the pro-ana forums that appeared on the web in the early 2000s on Tumblr, Skyblog or Pinterest and which promoted anorexia nervosa. They are much more recent and were uttered on social networks, mainly TikTok, and appear under the hashtag #SkinnyTok .

Initially dedicated to promoting slimness and providing advice on eating healthier, the hashtag has taken a worrying turn in recent weeks, with an injunction to be thin, fat-phobic messages, and constant guilt-tripping. But while blogs in the 2000s remained relatively confidential, the power of the Chinese social network and its powerful algorithm could well wreak havoc on the young adolescents exposed to it. The risk? Dietary restrictions that pose a very high risk to physical and mental health.

According to the French Federation of Anorexia and Bulimia (FFAB), "exposure to this type of message can be a trigger for pathological food restriction, or even a worsening of a eating disorder (TCA) or a relapse”. While many videos suggest diets of less than 1,000 or even 800 kcal per day, the complete elimination of food categories and excessive physical activity, "these recommendations are risky and come with a glorification of pain, hunger and control."

Videos showing bodies that are impossible to look like without putting oneself in danger, the FFAB believes that "exposure to these models increases body dissatisfaction, which is a major risk factor for eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa – well known – but also bulimia or binge eating disorder.

Finally, she fears a Werther effect in food, as in mimetic suicide. "The repetition of images and discourses surrounding thinness can lead to a contagion of risky behaviors. Sensationalist or unregulated media coverage can even reinforce the phenomenon, and the dissemination of images to illustrate the phenomenon is harmful..."

• electrolyte disturbances (hypokalemia: low potassium levels in the body);
• heart problems;
• early osteoporosis;
• hormonal dysfunction;
• great fatigue;
• hair loss;
• delayed growth and puberty in children and adolescents;
• degraded self-esteem;
• chronic anxiety;
• depression ;
• suicidal behavior.

The federation is finally alarmed by the persistence or worsening of eating disorders among at-risk individuals, the number of which, according to several studies, has increased sharply among younger people since the Covid-19 pandemic. "Cases of eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa, have increased sharply with the health crisis. Requests for treatment at our eating disorder referral center have tripled since 2021. There are more and more cases of pre-pubescent anorexia, from the age of 10-12," illustrated Dr. Diane Morfin, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Hospices Civils de Lyon, in 2024 on the occasion of World Eating Disorder Day.

As for TikTok, an Australian study published in 2024 on PLOS One showed that exposing young women aged 18 to 28 to pro-anorexia content on the social network had immediate consequences on their body image, potentially increasing the risk of developing disordered eating beliefs and behaviors. This risk increased with time spent on the algorithm.

The FFAB advocates for regulation of the use of social networks to protect minors, the strengthening of education in the use of digital technology and media from a very early age, and comprehensive prevention of eating disorders, beyond the fight against ideals of thinness. This should integrate other vulnerability factors common to mental disorders (emotional regulation disorders, trauma, isolation) and be integrated into an ambitious health prevention strategy in this year of great national cause. mental health " She also denounces an insufficient supply of care, incompatible, according to her, with secondary prevention, early detection and appropriate care.

On April 18, Clara Chappaz, the Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, announced on social media that she had contacted Arcom and the European Commission on this matter.

Note : Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the three main eating disorders. The former could affect up to 1.5% of women and 0.3% of men. Those affected are women in 80% of cases, with a peak frequency among 13-14 year-olds and 16-17 year-olds. Bulimia nervosa affects 1.5% of 11-20 year-olds and mostly affects women. The peak frequency is around 19-20 years old. Binge eating disorder (a bulimic crisis without compensatory behavior) affects both men and women and tends to appear in adulthood.

To request help, the "Anorexia Bulimia Info Listening" telephone line is open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 09 69 325 900.