Social media is such a big part of many individuals lives now more than ever and we tend to use it as a resource for weight information rather than going to the experts such as doctors when we have health related questions. “One obvious risk of embracing dietary advice on social media is that users may delay or avoid seeking professional help, which can lead to poorly managed conditions and avoidable complications". So much information floats across all social media platforms regarding what is beneficial for someone to do in order to lose weight at a fast pace, but how do we know that it is actually valid information?

     The clicks that users make on social media can impact on how one may view their lifestyle choices. We live in a society where people post having specific body/beauty standards are normalized in the sense that we should all be living that way. "Another concerning aspect is the effect on body image and mental health. Low self-worth are tied to the pressures of maintaining an ideal online image, as propagated on social media, and might push individuals to extreme behaviours”. 

     When users are exposed to information at our fingertips (literally), it is hard to get out of the habit of not believing everything we see. This can result in health risks especially towards weight loss claims because no two bodies are alike. “Promoting fad diets, weight-loss aids, and the exaltation of extreme thinness aids in the normalization of harmful behaviours”. We know that there are weight loss drugs which have been tested by professionals and prescribed to individuals who struggle with weight, but there are also so many weight loss claims across social media platforms that people adhere based on enticement language, for example, “if you do this you can lose 10 pounds in one week” which can potentially put someone with serious underlying health issues in jeopardy without understanding risks to their health.