If you find that the weight-loss incentives on social media have been more aggressive since the start of the year and that weight-loss apps are on the rise, you’re not wrong, according to experts.
• Read also: Beginning of the year resolutions: beware of weight loss diets
• Read also: Fraud on the web: even more advertisements for weight loss diets during the pandemic
“I find it particularly violent this year, but I think there are several factors,” says culinary chef Loounie of the toxic diet culture.
In a recent video that has over 100,000 views on Instagram, she denounces the violence of grossophobic comments and posts surrounding diet culture; particularly difficult to cash in for tall people, who are prey to many prejudices.
At the start of 2023, all the ingredients are in place to put pressure on people to lose weight: time for resolutions, exit from the pandemic during which gyms were closed for a long time, advertisements for new diet apps powered by the range of social networks.
Photo taken from Facebook
An ad that features an intermittent fasting app, a fad that is gaining popularity.
“There is a perfect storm, which means that the population becomes particularly vulnerable, explains Marie-Jeanne Rossier-Bisaillon, nutritionist and in charge of the project on the slimming industry at the Quebec Coalition on the problem of weight. Our recent survey shows that 6 to 10 out of 10 Quebecers report having made an effort to lose or maintain weight. »
New diets and drugs
The craze for new diets and injectable weight-loss drugs, such as Ozempic, is also taking Quebec by storm on social networks, following experiencing worrying popularity in the United States.
“There are many influencers who have been denouncing fatphobia on their page for several years, but who now claim to be taking medication [pour maigrir]take care of their health and invite people to do the same”, she says regarding the pressure caused by the multiplication of publications to “take care of yourself”.
classic resolutions
Although January is a time of year when advertisements and publications related to fitness and ways to lose weight abound, the public is more inclined to want to lose weight following several months of the pandemic.
Photo taken from Facebook
Another example of this time advocating the ketogenic diet.
“Marketing is very aggressive in January, it’s something that comes up every year, but with [la prolifération des] social networks, it is a problem that is amplified. There are also people who improvise as food experts and who will offer diets, ”denounces the 26-year-old nutritionist.
Photo taken from Facebook
Another example of broadcast in huge quantities on social networks.
Moreover, according to a survey by the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec published Tuesday, concern regarding weight has increased in the last month by 37% for Quebecers aged 25 to 44 years.
Possible solutions
Despite what you might think, you don’t need to report all posts related to weight loss to stop receiving them on Facebook.
According to Nellie Brière, speaker and consultant in digital communications and social networks, Meta will stop presenting any on this subject as soon as the first report is made.
If you plan to follow a diet, the Quebec Coalition on the Problem of Weight recommends consulting a health professional or a nutritionist.