With the prevalence of social media in the everyday lives of teenagers, it’s easy to get sucked into a dangerous spiral of unrealistic body images, developing insecurities that can morph into serious problems.
If you’ve been on social media, (and let’s face it, if you’re a teenager in 2024 you probably have,) then you know about eating disorders and their prevalence among the younger population.

While Mid-Pacific has a great education program to teach about these problems, it’s not as simple as being better informed.

Michelle Miyamoto, our resident health teacher, warns students to be wary of what they see online.

“There’s just so much misinformation out there. A lot of people are getting their information from social media, TikTok, and things like that, and I think you have to be skeptical and do your research,” Miyamoto said.

Along with inaccurate information, many TikTok and Instagram influencers perpetuate nutrition myths that can often have an even worse effect.

“Oh, there are so many [nutrition myths]! Green juices are a big one…The idea of eating clean is, I guess, a great concept, but oftentimes there’s not enough calories to maintain health–and that’s a form of starvation,” Miyamoto said.

Students on social media are also exposed to unrealistic body standards. A current trend is called “what I eat in a day” which, as the name suggests, documents what an influencer consumes in a day and is then shared as aspirational content: if you eat like them, maybe you will look like them too. This trend fosters dangerous misconceptions because influencers aren’t everyday people. It promotes standards that the majority of people are unable to follow due to limited resources.

“A lot of these influencers spend all day working out, have personal trainers, and have the money to afford that lifestyle. The average person doesn’t have that luxury, but they’re still comparing themselves to these unrealistic standards. Social media shows people’s best lives, which are often fake, and everyone else tries to keep up with it,” said Miyamoto.

Students at Mid-Pacific struggle with these myths and misconceptions too. Aimee Tamayori, a freshman, gave her opinion on the issue.

“I think body dysmorphia is more prevalent now. In the past all teenagers were obsessed with school. But now social media has manipulated teenagers to make this false reality of themselves,” Tamayori said.

“Clean eating” and nutrition myths aren’t the only problems that have arised from social media. A lot of influencers with gym accounts promote physiques that are only achievable with harmful steroids, which can be misleading. This leads to teenagers overworking themselves to the point of muscle damage. Sophomore Boston Wyman-Yarnell gave his thoughts on the harmful/positive nature of the gym.

“I’m addicted to working out–I have a chronic workout addiction… but it’s fun for me,” Wyman-Yarnell

Luckily, steps can be taken to avoid these problems or even prevent them altogether.

“Avoid comparing yourself to others. Accept yourself for who you are, flaws and all. Social media plays a huge role in these issues. If possible, talk to someone—whether it’s a mental health professional, a parent, or a friend who’s been through similar struggles. You have to learn to like yourself…just be sure to keep your [exercise and eating] balanced, and make sure it doesn’t take over your life,” Miyamoto said.

Dieting or having certain things you can or cannot eat can be okay, but take the necessary precautions to ensure it doesn’t become a problem.

“If it brings you joy and improves your well-being, that’s great! But it’s important to be mindful of whether it’s becoming unhealthy or obsessive,” Miyamoto said.

Although these problems might seem gigantic or unbeatable, there are many resources here at Mid-Pacific that can help someone going through a rough patch in life. Go to the Hawaii Center for Children and Families (HCCF), or talk to a loved one, but remember you’re not alone. You can get through this. And with time, hopefully eating disorders and body dysmorphia can be phased out of life altogether.