Researchers from the University of Toronto have found that active use of social networks increases the risk of developing dissatisfaction with body and muscle mass in boys and young men. The research was published in the journal Eating and Weight Disorders.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 2,500 Canadian teens and young adults. They found that the more time the boys spent on social media and in the news, the more dissatisfied they were with their muscle quality. Risk factors for body dissatisfaction for girls were TV viewing, Internet video, use of instant messaging programs, and video chats.
The researchers stressed that watching videos and using social media could be a way to gather information about education and nutrition that can reduce mental stress. Video chats, on the contrary, can increase body dissatisfaction as children face their own reflections in this form of communication.
The authors believe that parents and public health professionals should consider ways to limit social media use and create healthier content to reduce the prevalence of mental disorders among children.