by 
The #fitspo?photos of toned, muscular bodies in?your social media feeds?may motivate?you to get your sweat on. But those pictures?could have a gloomy too. For many women, posting such images might be a sign of risky?eating and exercise habits, according to researchers?from the School of Psychology at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia.
For their study,?published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, the researchers?checked out 101 ladies who regularly posted fitspiration?on Instagram-often?workout?photos, sometimes overlain having a quote (think “Strong beats skinny every time”). An evaluation group contained?102 ladies who regularly posted travel pictures, one other popular type of inspirational content on Instagram.
What they?discovered concerning the fitspo-posters?was alarming: Nearly 18%?of these?were at risk for diagnosis with a clinical?eating disorders, compared to approximately 4% of the women within the travel group. The research participants who posted fitspiration?were also more prone to experience feelings of shame and depression once they missed a workout-which is really a?key indicator of compulsive exercise, according to the study authors.?
“It seems likely, at least for many women, that even though they may present as fit and healthy, regularly posting fitspiration is really a culturally sanctioned way of rationalizing dietary restriction, disordered eating, and over-exercising,”?the authors concluded.?
As the researchers point out, #fitspo may not be as harmless because it seems. For just one, it requires “repeated representation?of only one body type (lean and toned) that is unattainable for most women,” they write. In addition, fitspo focuses on how working out can?make you look, as opposed to the long list of important benefits exercise?can offer, from improved digestion and energy to more balanced moods?and less inflammation.
So while an overview?of sculpted abs will let you get off the couch and also to a fitness center, it’s important as always to judge?the actual reasons you’re employed out, and ensure you’re sweating first of all to obtain fit and healthy, physically and mentally.
?
?
?
?
?
