How Media has Influenced Fitness: the Good and the Bad By Julie Bozzay

In the past few years social media has inspired many to join the lifting community and the pilates community. With rising fitness trends however, comes the danger of setting unrealistic body goals as the norm and creating bad habits around food. 

In recent years, the lifting and pilates communities have grown exponentially. Social media played a large role in their popularization. For the most part, this is a fantastic development. The media provides tutorials, encouragement, and advice. People just getting into lifting are now assisted 

by content creators rather than being forced to figure out form along the way. Creators introduce audiences to new exercises and their benefits which allows gym goers to find what works for them. 

The rise in popularity however, always comes with challenges. Unrealistic body goals are now presented as normal. Creators are presenting a false narrative by swearing that certain exercises or splits are the sole reason for their body, but behind the camera they carefully watch their diet. Kids are being presented with the idea that the repetition of certain routines will yield the results that they see. The creators that do post about their diet run the risk of viewers becoming hyper focused on what they eat, counting calories and denying themselves certain foods. Genetics, of course, play a massive role in how bodies react to exercise. Audiences may expect results that are unachievable with their genetic make up which often leads to disappointment with one's own body. One of the largest consumers of social media is young, impressionable teens who are feeling insecure in their body and the constant consumption of nearly impossible body standards is harmful to their self image. People become hyper aware of things that are considered flaws like cellulite, body fat, and lack of definition when in reality those are just part of having a body. 

Out of its popularity, comes trends. Every spring, a trend promoting “summer body” arises. While the inspiration for movement is good, this trend encourages fast weight loss. In an attempt to prepare their bodies for

summer, audiences fall into bad practices like lemon water diets, excessive exertion, and the elimination of meals. 

The rising popularity of lifting and pilates have done so much good, people are in the gym more than ever and focused on becoming the healthiest version of themselves, but they must avoid the many landmines that come with it.