TikTok says no to #SkinnyTok. Does it mean a win for mental health?
This is a digital-first world. Smartphones are no longer a true luxury but more of a necessity. And of course, this comes with a price, metaphorically (and yes, literally too). Then comes the Internet. It's a love-hate relationship, no doubt. On social media, you can express opinions, explore new things, and even use it to scout jobs. The pros are too many, and so are the cons.advertisementIf you are someone who has been active on social media, chances are you have already been served the idea of a healthy diet culture in a reel, amongst all the other things the internet may push your way.#SkinnyTok is one such trend on TikTok. This viral trend's concept of fitness is being as thin as possible. Shrinking waistlines have become a social flex. In the guise of wellness or weight-loss tips, the content following this hashtag is about dangerously restrictive dietary methods.
Now, the social media platform has banned the hashtag and instead redirects users to a mental health resource page.While it is just like any other viral hashtag, trends like #SkinnyTok and 'What I Eat in a Day' are feeding more than just engagement, they are feeding eating disorders, too.advertisementAccording to recent studies, social media plays a major role in this. Data further highlights that women are more susceptible to falling prey to these trends.TikTok bans #skinnytokOne 'harmless' scroll (apparently), and the next thing you know, you have this urge to simply believe and start following whatever the reels and videos are showing. #SkinnyTok is a glaring example of this.It takes just one video for you to show interest, then the algorithm floods you with more, even if you don't want it, until you do.
#SkinnyTok idealised extreme weight loss. Under the guise of fitness, the hashtag promoted content about unhealthy weight loss. Eventually, it snowballed into an unsaid competition about waistlines, thigh gaps, and who is the thinnest of them all. Truth be told, it's a game you are meant to lose, and you might not even realise it.When it comes to treating patients with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa, experts have expressed how misinformation and social media influencers have become a major hurdle. "The patients are completely indoctrinated, and my 45-minute weekly consultation is no match for spending hours every day on TikTok," nutritionist Carole Copti told to AFP.Rise of eating disordersIt may sound like a physiological problem, but eating disorders are a mental health issue (mostly). These are psychological disorders characterised by abnormal eating habits and distorted weight-control behaviours. Research shows that the prevalence of eating disorders has significantly surged over the years, from 3.5 per cent in 2000 to 7.8 per cent in 2018.Coincidence much? Not quite. That timeline also matches the rise and diversification of social media into our everyday lives.
Social media has become an inevitable part of our lives. (Photo: Pexels)
"Eating disorders are more prevalent amongst adolescent females, with 5.7 per cent affected, compared to 1.2 per cent of adolescent males," a 2024 study in Front Psychiatry states.As per a systematic review published in JAMA Paediatrics, teenage females are at an alarmingly high risk of developing eating problems, which have been linked to severe emotional anguish and medical issues. It states that, "Compared to boys, girls are three times more likely to exhibit an eating disorder by the age of 15."Why women?advertisementThe answer is twofold - it's the biology as well as the culture. 'Biologically, a woman's life is governed by certain hormones, and she experiences hormonal fluctuations throughout her lifetime. These hormones specifically influence her eating behaviours,' says Dr. Sonali Chaturvedi, consultant, psychology, Arete Hospitals, tells India Today.
Women are more prone to developing eating disorders (Photo: Pexels)
But that's not it. Unrealistic beauty standards for women are at play too."Society expects women to look in a certain way, to maintain a certain ideal body weight. They compare themselves with certain 'ideal' body images and have low self-esteem in case if they are not able to maintain that. So, that is the reason: where they grow up in an environment where they are not confident about how they look, their appearances, their body weight, and they end up having certain eating disorders," she adds.advertisementThe validation that one gets on social media can take a heavy toll on the mind, body and soul too.These trends thrive on self-esteem, one like and comment at a time.Trending Reel
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India Today
7 hours ago
- India Today
TikTok says no to #SkinnyTok. Does it mean a win for mental health?
This is a digital-first world. Smartphones are no longer a true luxury but more of a necessity. And of course, this comes with a price, metaphorically (and yes, literally too). Then comes the Internet. It's a love-hate relationship, no doubt. On social media, you can express opinions, explore new things, and even use it to scout jobs. The pros are too many, and so are the you are someone who has been active on social media, chances are you have already been served the idea of a healthy diet culture in a reel, amongst all the other things the internet may push your way.#SkinnyTok is one such trend on TikTok. This viral trend's concept of fitness is being as thin as possible. Shrinking waistlines have become a social flex. In the guise of wellness or weight-loss tips, the content following this hashtag is about dangerously restrictive dietary methods. Now, the social media platform has banned the hashtag and instead redirects users to a mental health resource it is just like any other viral hashtag, trends like #SkinnyTok and 'What I Eat in a Day' are feeding more than just engagement, they are feeding eating disorders, to recent studies, social media plays a major role in this. Data further highlights that women are more susceptible to falling prey to these bans #skinnytokOne 'harmless' scroll (apparently), and the next thing you know, you have this urge to simply believe and start following whatever the reels and videos are showing. #SkinnyTok is a glaring example of takes just one video for you to show interest, then the algorithm floods you with more, even if you don't want it, until you do. #SkinnyTok idealised extreme weight loss. Under the guise of fitness, the hashtag promoted content about unhealthy weight loss. Eventually, it snowballed into an unsaid competition about waistlines, thigh gaps, and who is the thinnest of them all. Truth be told, it's a game you are meant to lose, and you might not even realise it comes to treating patients with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa, experts have expressed how misinformation and social media influencers have become a major hurdle. "The patients are completely indoctrinated, and my 45-minute weekly consultation is no match for spending hours every day on TikTok," nutritionist Carole Copti told to of eating disordersIt may sound like a physiological problem, but eating disorders are a mental health issue (mostly). These are psychological disorders characterised by abnormal eating habits and distorted weight-control behaviours. Research shows that the prevalence of eating disorders has significantly surged over the years, from 3.5 per cent in 2000 to 7.8 per cent in much? Not quite. That timeline also matches the rise and diversification of social media into our everyday lives. Social media has become an inevitable part of our lives. (Photo: Pexels) "Eating disorders are more prevalent amongst adolescent females, with 5.7 per cent affected, compared to 1.2 per cent of adolescent males," a 2024 study in Front Psychiatry per a systematic review published in JAMA Paediatrics, teenage females are at an alarmingly high risk of developing eating problems, which have been linked to severe emotional anguish and medical issues. It states that, "Compared to boys, girls are three times more likely to exhibit an eating disorder by the age of 15."Why women?advertisementThe answer is twofold - it's the biology as well as the culture. 'Biologically, a woman's life is governed by certain hormones, and she experiences hormonal fluctuations throughout her lifetime. These hormones specifically influence her eating behaviours,' says Dr. Sonali Chaturvedi, consultant, psychology, Arete Hospitals, tells India Today. Women are more prone to developing eating disorders (Photo: Pexels) But that's not it. Unrealistic beauty standards for women are at play too."Society expects women to look in a certain way, to maintain a certain ideal body weight. They compare themselves with certain 'ideal' body images and have low self-esteem in case if they are not able to maintain that. So, that is the reason: where they grow up in an environment where they are not confident about how they look, their appearances, their body weight, and they end up having certain eating disorders," she validation that one gets on social media can take a heavy toll on the mind, body and soul trends thrive on self-esteem, one like and comment at a Reel
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
Too young, too female: At 25, all I want is a doctor who listens
The smell of hospital disinfectant, unsettled nerves and a sense of impatience hung in the consultation room as I sat in front of the 60-something-year-old doctor. But I was prepared to be a good patient. I had a mental list of all my symptoms and was ready to answer the 'whys' and the 'hows'. 'Fever, sore throat, body ache, excessive fatigue. Worse after…' 'Did you have a long day out recently?' The doctor cut me off, already reaching to jot down the prescription. 'Yes, we were out in the sun right at noon; it was very, very hot. It became even worse because I got my period the same day—' 'Yeah, that doesn't make a lot of difference. It is exhaustion and vitamin D deficiency,' the doctor interrupted again. 'Very common in young people, especially those who spend all day working indoors on their laptops,' he continued. He took a beat to look at my father, almost seeking approval for his diagnosis-cum-judgement on a whole generation. The consultation at a prominent Delhi hospital's Outpatient Department lasted barely five minutes. I walked out feeling sicker, hopeless, and angry. Medically, I was later diagnosed with a viral fever for which I ended up taking an extended antibiotic course, just because I didn't start my medication soon enough. The outcome would have likely been different had I been heard during the consultation. A 2016 essay, published in the National Medical Journal of India, states that of all the communication strategies available to medical professionals, they are most likely to dismiss 'listening' as 'passive and weak'. The essay cites a book titled Skills for Communicating with Patients, which was first published in 1998, and explores strategies for effective doctor-patient interaction. 'Doctors have traditionally controlled the interview via closed questions that limit patients' contributions and render them more passive,' the third edition of the book (2013) notes. At 25, I belong to a generation that expects to be heard. We seek healthcare that is collaborative, not judgmental and exclusionary. The dawn of the internet democratised knowledge, even around health and medicine, which were previously locked up in medical textbooks and journals. So, we grew up Googling our symptoms. Many healthcare practitioners seem to view informed (younger) patients as those looking to question their authority rather than partners with a common aim. The concern isn't entirely unfounded. When bordering on self-diagnosis, an Internet search does more harm than good and can lead to wrong or improper remedies. But I wasn't trying to play doctor. I just wanted to explain my condition as clearly as possible, present all the relevant facts, for the expert to help me better. This was lost in the shotgun approach to communication. The dismissal I faced has a name in academic circles. In 2007, Miranda Fricker first described 'epistemic injustice' or the injustice inflicted on someone 'in their capacity as a knower'. In the context of healthcare, the National Institutes of Health uses this broad concept to define 'testimonial injustice'. It's when a patient explaining their experience of a certain illness is 'dismissed or under-played' by the specialist. This leads to the selection of only parts of the patient's testimonial, which the specialist considers 'useful', for diagnosis or treatment options. When age meets gender The communication gap deepens when you are both young and female. My 28-year-old friend in Chennai, dealing with a persistent toothache and consequent headache, swung between various dentists and doctors, unable to understand the cause behind her problems. It took her several weeks and a gracious doctor who inquired enough to deduce that she needed a root canal. All this could have been avoided had she been advised to get an X-ray on the first visit itself. But her symptoms remained largely unheard and, worse, dismissed. She bore the double burden of being seen as too young to understand the intricacies and too female to trust her own body. Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan, in her 2024 book titled Unheard: The Medical Practice of Silencing, chronicles how 'not listening to patients' has been ingrained in medical science since its inception. 'All patients are silenced to some extent, but some — notably, people of Black, Asian, and minority ethnicity, women, and people who are sick or disabled — are more severely and consistently silenced than others,' Dr Dhairyawan, who is also a UK-based consultant physician, writes. Neither my friend nor I were asked what triggered our symptoms, or the severity and the duration of the discomfort. The immediate dismissal mostly came wrapped in the language of generic concern: 'Beta, it happens in this age', 'resting well should do it', or 'you are too young to have these problems'. Variations of these phrases exist across doctors, specialists, and even cities. It's harder to challenge them when family members resort to 'doctors know best, trust them'. While nobody would describe a visit to the doctor as inviting, these unpleasant encounters create barriers to seeking medical help. Self-doubt creeps in. Maybe the pain isn't so bad. Maybe it means nothing. Those who listen It takes one step from both sides to make things better. For me, the step was witnessing a balanced doctor-patient interaction. 'Tell me all that you have been feeling' — just watching another doctor sit across from my cousin and patiently ask him questions that nudged him to delve into details was reassuring and encouraging. It emphasised how the dynamics and the experience change when doctors view listening as a clinical skill. As the 2016 essay notes: 'Through active listening that recruits the emotions as well as the intellect of the listener, the doctors could move from defensive planning to empathic understanding.' The many doctors who already embody the art of listening genuinely ease the discomfort of hospital visits. Their conversations break free from the tired scripts where patient voices get lost between symptoms and treatment plans. These doctors remind us: even if consultation rooms still smell of disinfectant, they don't have to reek of dismissal. Vibha B Madhava is a sub-editor at the news desk for She is interested in writing about gender, culture and politics of ableism. Having specialised in digital journalism, she is keen to explore various forms of interactive, multimedia storytelling. Apart from that, she also likes to experiment with social media. Qualification, Degrees/other achievements: Bachelor's degree in Media and Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal Academy of Higher Education. PG Diploma in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. With The Indian Express, this is Vibha's first stint in pursuing journalism in a full-time capacity. Previous internship experience: Deccan Herald, Bengaluru; The News Minute, Bengaluru; The Mojo Story; Radio Indigo 91.9 and Fever FM 94.3 (Hyderabad) You can find her on Twitter as @VibhaBMadhava , on LinkedIn (Vibha B Madhava), or write to her at ... Read More
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
‘Spent a week unconscious in ICU, declared brain-dead': Teen loses life trying viral TikTok ‘dusting' challenge; know what it is
Renna O'Rourke, 19, believed she was destined for stardom. 'She always said, 'I'm going to be famous, dad. Just you watch. I'm going to be famous',' her father Aaron O'Rourke told 12 News. Her pursuit of viral fame, however, ended in tragedy after she became the latest victim of TikTok's dangerous 'dusting' trend, a challenge that involves inhaling aerosol chemicals from household products to get high. The practice, also known as 'huffing' or 'chroming,' has long been condemned by health experts and authorities for its deadly consequences. According to reports, the Tempe, Arizona resident had ordered an aerosol keyboard cleaner to her parents' home, where she lived. Without her mother's knowledge, she and her boyfriend attempted the dangerous challenge, and shortly after, Renna went into cardiac arrest. 'She spent a week unconscious in the intensive care unit and then was declared brain-dead,' Aaron told 12 News. The 'dusting' trend is not new. According to CNN, nearly 564,000 American teenagers aged 12-17 reported using inhalants in 2022, an alarming statistic that, while down from 684,000 in 2015, still underscores the ongoing risk posed by viral substance abuse trends on social media. Health experts have long warned about the dangers of inhaling household cleaners. Dr Vivek Anand Padegal, director – pulmonology at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, said, 'Inhaling household cleaners can be fatal due to the toxic chemicals they contain, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous substances. When inhaled, these chemicals can cause severe damage to the lungs, airways, and brain.' Dr Padegal also said, 'As soon as these substances are breathed in, they can trigger inflammation, irritation, and damage to the delicate tissues in the lungs, leading to respiratory distress, coughing, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can cause chemical pneumonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even death.' Even in cases where exposure isn't fatal, the long-term effects can be devastating. 'Non-fatal exposure can cause chronic respiratory issues, such as reactive airway disease (similar to asthma), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and other long-term lung problems, as well as neurological damage,' Dr Padegal said. As the O'Rourkes mourn the devastating loss of their daughter, they are speaking out to warn other parents, teens, and educators about the viral but deadly influence of trends like dusting. Their message is clear: no online fame is worth risking a life.
