SynthesisEuropean eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association2026
Idealized Body Images and Fitness Lifestyles on Social Media: A Systematic Review Exploring the Link Between Social Media Use and Symptoms of Orthorexia Nervosa and Muscle Dysmorphia.
Synthesis in European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Idealized Body Images and Fitness Lifestyles on Social Media: A Systematic Review Exploring the Link Between Social Media Use and Symptoms of Orthorexia Nervosa and Muscle Dysmorphia.European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association · 2026Pooled it
- Fitness-Related Short Video Engagement and Body Appreciation: Gender-Differentiated Indirect Pathways via Exercise Identity and Mindful Eating.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- The impact of peer and media pressure on muscle dysmorphia for men and women in the general German population is mediated by the internalization of muscularity ideals.Journal of eating disorders · 2026Article
- Eating Disorders in Boys and Men: A Gender-Critical Narrative Review on Recognition, Stigma, and Treatment.The International journal of eating disorders · 2026Review
- Social Media Addiction and Orthorexia Nervosa Tendencies in Turkish Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study of BMI and Lifestyle Factors.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- TikTok and Instagram as Putative Social Media in Promoting Healthy Eating Habits in Youths At-Risk for Eating/Feeding Disorders and Body Image Dissatisfaction.Brain sciences · 2026Article
- Assessing Orthorexic Tendencies and Dietary Patterns: A Cross-Sectional Study of Orthorexia Nervosa and Dietary Patterns in Lithuania.Nutrients · 2026Article
- Goals in Nutrition Science 2025-2030.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveSocial media (SM) is a source of appearance-focused content that promotes idealized bodies and appearances. It also spreads misinformation about nutrition and fitness practices. While SM use has been linked to attitudes toward eating disorders, its association with orthorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia-characterized by obsessive behaviors around diet and body image-remains underexplored. This study systematically reviewed quantitative research on the relationship between SM use and symptoms of orthorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia.
methodThe review was registered on PROSPERO and adhered to PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-two studies (orthorexia nervosa: n = 17; muscle dysmorphia: n = 5) were included, primarily cross-sectional and conducted on non-clinical populations. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies.
resultsMost studies found that higher SM use was associated with greater orthorexia nervosa and muscle dysmorphia symptoms, with specific contents -such as posts regarding nutrition, thinness, and exercise- particularly associated with orthorexia nervosa. Platforms like Instagram, Tumblr, and Grindr demonstrated stronger associations with orthorexia nervosa symptoms. Gender differences were also observed.
conclusionsFindings suggest a link between SM use and orthorexia nervosa symptoms, with preliminary evidence also supporting an association with muscle dysmorphia symptoms. Future research should explore causality and develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies to mitigate these risks.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.