Lifting the Screen on Fitspiration: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Fitspiration content is widespread across social media platforms, showcasing fitness imagery intertwined with beauty ideals, inspiring individuals to be fit. Despite the popularity of this content and scholarly efforts to understand its characteristics, little is known about the causal impact of fitspiration on users’ health. The present meta-analysis (k = 26, N = 6,111) addresses this question by synthesizing the growing body of causal evidence published between 2015 and 2023. The results paint a dire image, revealing that exposure to fitspiration among young adults leads to increased social comparisons and unhealthy dieting and exercise motivations, as well as negatively influencing self-esteem, body image, appearance satisfaction, and affect. These findings set the agenda for future research, offering empirical evidence regarding a widespread, albeit undertheorized, feature of growing up in today’s social media landscape.