Impact of social media influence on eating behavior in mid and late adolescent children a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is an important period of life when healthy behaviors are learned and cultivated to improve quality of life and physical function. During this time, it is important to eat well, exercise, and feel good about yourself. Social media is a part of adolescent life having many advantages, however, wrong information can have an adverse health effect. Adolescents are influenced by the content posted on social media, which frequently features a lot of fast-junk food marketing advertisements. In turn, these posts affect their eating preferences and choices and may change their perception of what constitutes a healthy eating behavior. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the influence of social media on adolescent children and to determine its impact on their eating behaviors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two higher secondary schools were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Both schools’ principals were notified about the study and received signed informed consent. One hundred and forty-four teenagers (15–19 years old) who fit the inclusion criteria were recruited using the simple random sampling method. After explaining the study and obtaining consent/assent. A self-administered predesigned, semi-structured, validated questionnaire was used to collect data. RESULTS: Celebrities had a roughly similar influence on both male and female adolescents on diet and exercise routines. Among females, 16.25% were generally affected compared to 12.50% of males, whereas 37.50% were occasionally influenced compared to 35.94% of males. An analysis of the impact of advertisements on meals and beverages revealed that males were often more tempted than females. The influence of social networking sites on female eating habits revealed that 43.04% preferred to visit cafes and restaurants more frequently than 29.69% of males, whereas 15.19% of females ordered meals online compared to 25% of males. Females (57.50%) had a greater desire for an idle body type and attempted to lose or gain weight as influenced by media than males (46.88%). Interestingly, males (45.31%) were more body-conscious and concerned about their nutrition than women (39.24%). CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that females were more influenced by social media on eating behavior; however, males in the study were body conscious and desired an ideal body.

Keywords

• adolescents
• eating behaviors
• higher secondary schools
• social media