Doctors and dietitians are cautioning against anorexia recovery accounts following inquiries from NOS Stories about these types of social media accounts where patients discuss their recovery. On TikTok, young girls create videos about their eating disorders, aiming to provide tips or support to others struggling with similar issues.
Annemarie van Bellegem, a pediatrician specializing in eating disorders at Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, notes that such accounts might not be beneficial. She explains that eating disorders are competitive, with social media interactions potentially reinforcing unhealthy behaviors, which hampers recovery.
Kajal, 19, once ran such an account, sharing her recovery journey to inspire others. However, she acknowledges the risks, as seeing others in severe states can exacerbate the disorder.
Tim Offringa, a researcher at Leiden University Medical Center, also highlights the dangers of social media for those with eating disorders, noting that exposure to such content can worsen conditions. Offringa warns about TikTok’s wide reach, where users may inadvertently enter a negative feedback loop.
Source: NOS