Have you heard of vitamin gummies that can help you lose pounds in days? And about vision-improving castor oil? Do you have sleeping problems? Drink some salad water before bed and you’ll fall asleep in no time. Welcome to TikTok Health Advice!
Quick diet tips disguised as health hacks are nothing new. The only difference is that while fad diets used to hide in the columns of lifestyle magazines, they have now been revived on social media.
According to one of the latest health trends, for example, apple cider vinegar gum can help you lose weight, Glamor details. The applecidergummies and applecidervinegargummies hashtags have already been used by more than 81.3 million people on TikTok and have been linked to various “health” benefits, including weight loss.
All of this is problematic because these “advice” are often based on personal experiences, opinions, or even brand-related content.
These health hacks promise quick, easy and cheap tips to fit into our busy lifestyles. They offer steps that we can easily implement ourselves, giving us a sense of power over our well-being
– he explains Dr. Becky Spelman psychologist.
Photo: Shutterstock
When dealing with content related to our health, we need to consider whether it is really safe. Apple cider vinegar, for example, has been linked to various health benefits, although very few studies specifically address it. Moreover, magic weight loss gummies not only promote misleading and potentially dangerous information, but can also encourage unhealthy eating habits.
For example, some fans of the trend have gone so far as to claim that one gummy is enough to last you until lunch.
What these trends have in common is that they claim to do something amazing for your body, but in reality they only feed a toxic culture of supposedly healthy lifestyles and miracle hacks, putting TikTok users at risk of developing disordered eating behaviors.
Those who are more prone to disordered eating may be more susceptible to these tendencies. Research has found a link between social media use and eating concerns
– he says Dr Rumbi Mutengaan NHS doctor.
Sorting fact from fiction and deciphering which wellness trends are actually beneficial is no easy task. Before you try one, do your research, using reputable sources and considering whether the hack comes from a registered professional such as a dietitian, nutritionist or doctor.
While we may be able to protect our bodies from this kind of content with our own fact-checking, it’s not easy to stop ourselves from falling victim to popular toxic diet culture. But we must not forget that there is no quick fix for a healthier lifestyle, and health and slimness do not always go hand in hand.
Opening image: Shutterstock
