From Thinspo to Fitspo: Have We Really Made Progress?

As someone who has long been interested in topics and issues around body image, I'll admit I was initially drawn to the rise of "fitspiration" and the fall of "thinspiration" content. Fitspiration has been put forward as a healthy antidote to another Internet-based trend known as “thinspiration”. Thinspiration (i.e., thinness and inspiration) refers to media that glorifies thinness, thin ideals, and weight loss, thus promoting the thin ideal (Ghaznavi & Taylor, 2015; Talbot et al., 2017)

Unlike its predecessor, the fitspiration trend encourages media consumers to switch the emphasis from being thin to being "fit," "toned," "strong," and "healthy" to motivate people to adopt a healthier lifestyle (Abena, 2019; Tiggemann & Zaccardo, 2018). It ostensibly advocates for active and healthy lifestyle choices, often personified through imagery that depicts and glorifies athletic and toned muscular bodies (Talbot et al., 2017; Tiggemann & Zaccardo, 2018). 

At first glance, the idea of celebrating strong, capable bodies rather than the ultra-thin ideals of the past seemed like a positive shift. After all, shouldn't focusing on fitness rather than thinness promote healthier behaviours? However, it seems that reality is far more complex. 

Previous studies revealed that exposure to fitspiration content is linked to increased body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and compulsive exercise behaviors (Fardouly et al., 2018; Griffiths & Stefanovski, 2019; Holland & Tiggemann, 2017; Prichard et al., 2018, 2020; Robinson et al., 2017; Tiggemann & Zaccardo, 2015). Because achieving this athletic-ideal body often requires greater dietary restriction and high-intensity exercise regimes (Markula, 1995), portraying the toned ideal as a health and wellness benchmark can potentially lead to unhealthy preoccupations with "clean eating" and excessive exercise (Tiggemann & Zaccardo, 2018). For example, Dunn and Bratman (2016) showed that the notion of 'clean eating' promoted by fitspiration can consequently lead to restrictive eating practices characteristic of orthorexia nervosa. 

Recent data even suggest a comparable prevalence of muscle dysmorphia (i.e., a severe and pathological preoccupation with perceived inadequate muscularity) in both adolescent boys and girls (Mitchison et al., 2021), indicating that muscularity is no longer predominantly a masculine concern.

This paradoxical effect seems to stem from the presentation of yet another idealized and often unattainable body type, simply replacing one impossible standard with another

While the shift from thinness to fitness may seem positive, some researchers posit that the healthy-looking ideal is still underpinned by aesthetic perfection (e.g., Jong et al., 2016). In other words, the message being conveyed is not about embracing diversity or finding joy in movement - it is about constantly striving to achieve a particular aesthetic. 

The troubling impact of this trend can even be seen in the explosion of "athleisure" fashion, which Lipson et al. (2020) suggest may represent women's desire to conform to the fit-looking ideal. It's a concerning illustration of how appearance-focused fitness has become. And social media influencers, who might lack training in health behaviour change, are often the ones perpetuating this myopic view (Benton & Karazsia, 2015; Griffiths & Stefanovski, 2019; Prichard et al., 2020; Robinson et al., 2017; Tiggemann & Zaccardo, 2015). 

(@pinkpilatesprincess_)

I suppose what's even more concerning is that having a fit and 'tight' looking body is in stark contrast to the 'classic' physical representation of eating disorders, making eating and exercise psychopathology less evident. In addition to this, rigid dieting and exercise may be both egosyntonic and socially reinforced (e.g., compliments about noticeable body changes or commitment to strict eating and/or exercise regimens), further ingraining these maladaptive behaviours.

I also find myself increasingly concerned for our younger generation, particularly adolescents. These young individuals are at a critical stage of developing their self-identity, making them especially vulnerable to external influences. In their quest to understand who they are and who they should be, it's all too easy for them to look outward, seeking validation and direction from social media trends like Fitspiration. The potential impact on their developing self-image and long-term health behaviours is deeply worrying. This makes it even more crucial that we understand and address the effects of fitspiration across different cultures and age groups.

I am, however, painfully aware that most of the research evidence quoted here comes from Western cultures. This raises an important question: How much of these findings apply in societies with different beauty standards and cultural norms? In my upcoming research, I aim to explore the impact of fitspiration in Asian cultures. This is particularly intriguing - and potentially concerning - given that many Asian societies are often perceived to 'embrace' lookism more openly. Will the effects of fitspiration be even more pronounced in these contexts? Or will we see different patterns emerge? (p.s. while I'm excited to further explore this topic, I am also apprehensive about what my research might reveal)

So… where do we go from here for now? I believe it's time to rethink how we approach fitness and health content, both online and offline. Rather than aspiring to a singular body type, we need to celebrate the diverse ways that people can move, feel good, and thrive. Fitness should be about joy, capability, and holistic well-being - not just achieving a certain look.

with reticence, Jasmine