Mobile exercising and tweeting the pounds away: The use of digital applications and microblogging and their association with disordered eating and compulsive exercise

Abstract

AbstractIn recent years, content featuring fitspiration messages on blogs and microblogs has increased. In addition, the use of mobile phone applications to monitor diet and exercise has also seen greater adoption. This study examined the association between consumption of various types of social media and reports of disordered eating and compulsive exercising. The sample consisted of 262 participants who completed an online questionnaire that included questions related to exercise and eating habits, as well as the frequency of use of traditional blogs, microblogs, and mobile phone applications featuring nutritional and exercise-related content. Results showed that the use of mobile phone applications and microblogs were significantly and positively associated with reports of disordered eating. Further, the use of mobile phone applications was also significantly and positively associated with compulsive exercise behaviors. However, the use of traditional blogs was not significantly associated with unhealt...