Beware of the effects of social media on weight loss goals

One of the latest weight loss crazes is one where teenage girls and other young women aim to become so slender, that when they stand with their feet together, their thighs don't touch each other.

Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon and fitness expert, advised that genetics mainly determines the spacing between an individual’s legs. She added that one would have to have wide hips and yet be skinny in order to achieve that gap, and even some extraordinarily thin people may not hold that particular body type.

Focus on yourself

It seems that social media may sometimes make achieving healthy weight loss goals more difficult for some people, especially when others post pictures of themselves looking extremely skinny and slender.

According to the Times of India, ‘Studies suggest that peer pressure from social media plays a significant role in eating disorders. A 2011 study at the University of Haifa found that adolescent girls who spent the most time using Facebook had a greater chance of developing a negative body image and an eating disorder.’

Seek medical advice

If you are overweight or obese, seek medical advice and guidance before adopting any new diet trends out there. Your health and overall well-being should never be neglected when on a healthy weight loss program.

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