Confronting the glorification of anorexia and bulimia

The internet and social media have long been a breeding ground for all kinds of harmful content, which has become a risk factor for the development and maintenance of eating disorders. From websites and blogs to chat rooms and social media profiles, any space can be used, under the cloak of anonymity, to promote anorexia and bulimia, seeking to attract a very young audience, mostly underage girls. Mechanisms exist for reporting this type of content. You can find out how on the website of the Association Against Anorexia and Bulimia (ACAB) regarding the promotion of anorexia and bulimia online .

Instagram is perhaps the social network with the greatest impact on these types of practices. According to a report by the Internet Quality Agency, there are almost four million social media posts that use hashtags that conceal this type of content. Its very dynamics can encourage comparisons, lead to increased body dissatisfaction among young people, and can trigger or reinforce an eating disorder.

Fighting the glorification of eating disorders from within

On March 20, 2019, coinciding with World Happiness Day, users and professionals from the Mental Health Area of Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in Barcelona created the first Instagram account, @stoptca_sjd , with a therapeutic purpose. This account is part of the treatment received by Day Hospital patients with eating disorders. The innovative aspect of this initiative, which has thousands of followers, lies in its therapeutic function for treating anorexia and bulimia, while also serving as a platform to broadcast positive and healthy messages on one of the social networks with the greatest impact among teenagers. Thirty young people between the ages of 9 and 18 actively participate in publishing content and share information about some of the workshops they attend to improve their self-esteem and cope with their eating disorders. The professionals are responsible for validating and publishing the content.

This Instagram account aims to raise user awareness of their problem and increase their motivation to make changes, two fundamental steps in the therapeutic process. It offers an alternative perspective to other social media profiles and digital publications that portray anorexia and other eating disorders as "lifestyles" rather than as mental illnesses.

This project, based on a peer support strategy, is an open communication channel that draws on user experience and professional knowledge, achieving health education grounded in scientific evidence and supported by positive values. This represents a clear example of patient participation in decision-making.