Why not all social media body positive advice is healthy

Press enter or click to view image in full sizeWhile body positivity is good, its not ok to promote harmful behaviors and important aspects of heath and self-perception

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purpose only. The blog doesn’t criticize anyone for their body size or their lifestyle choices. Everyone deserve self love and respect. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal health guidance.

Every once in a while, while being on social media, I notice how i come across posts telling me to ignore your weight and just "embrace, accept and love yourself." You see these Tik-tok and Instagram reels and at first it makes you feel empowered. It made me wonder, are these messages from influencers and even the big celebrity names really helping us staying healthy?

Here’s the truth: Not all body positivity content is created equal. Some of these posts may unintentionally encourage people to ignore their weight and the risks associated with it. Ignoring these risks can be dangerous for the long run.

In this blog, we will explore why it is important to separate self love to health ignorance, and why social media "expert advice" should never replace actual professional medical advice.

The Positive Side of Body Positivity

First and foremost, let me be clear: Body passivity has some real benefits. It encourages self acceptance and helpful for mental well being. Body positivity reminds people of self worth and helps overcome body shaming and bullying.

Respecting your body is essential for a good mental space. However, there’s a fine line between acceptance and complete denial. A line where acceptance can turn into health risk.

When Self-Love Crosses Into Health Risk

Things gets tricky when some so called social media influencers and celebrities, with their full conscious or not, sends the message that all body size are equal and healthy, even in the case of obesity. They seem to ignore the science backed facts and say things that are not true for their hundreds of thousand, or in some cases, millions of followers to listen to.

Press enter or click to view image in full sizeBMI chart with five silhouettes labeled from Underweight to Extreme Obesity by BMI range.

While these influencers are busy spreading the message for self love and positive body image without evidence, here are some of the facts that says otherwise:

Heart Disease:

Obesity can significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to American Heart Association, Nearly a 130 million American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease. According to their 2023 update, 928,741 people has died in 2020 due to CVD.

Obesity related CVD deaths has been on a rise. Between 1999 and 2020 CVD related deaths has tripled rising from 2.2 to 6.6 per 100,000.

Here are some ways Obesity Contributes to CVD:

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Excessive amount of body fat increases the volume of blood and vascular resistance. It increases blood pressure which is a major CVD risk.

High Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Obesity often leads to dyslipidemia also known as hyperlipidemia, a condition in which there’s a abnormal number of fats ( lipids) in the blood. This includes higher levels of LDL (bad cholesterol), lower HDL (Good cholesterol) and triglycerides. These contribute to the build up of plaque in the arteries.

Insulin Resistance & Type 2 Diabetes: Obesity can lead the body to become insulin resistance which increases the chance for type 2 diabetes, which in turn significantly raises the risk of heart disease.

Inflammation: Fat cells especially visceral fat releases inflammatory cytokines. These damage blood vessels and accelerate atherosclerosis.

Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is common in individuals in obesity. It causes a significant drop in Oxygen during sleep which leads to heart strain and increases the risk of arrhythmias, heart failure, and stroke.

Type 2 Diabetes:Press enter or click to view image in full sizePerson checking blood sugar levels using a glucometer and lancet device at home.

As obesity rises worldwide, so does the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Obesity and diabetes are more connected then people realize. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more prevalent as the rate of obesity rises globally. The health experts are calling it a "diabesity" epidemic. While genetics and lifestyle choices both play a role, excess body weight, especially around the abdomen, significantly increases the risk of developing insulin resistance. Understanding the link between obesity and diabetes is essential not just for prevention but also for effective long-term management.

How Obesity Leads to Type 2 Diabetes

Insulin Resistance: People with obesity often have to deal with excessive belly fat. Because of this the cells becomes less responsive to insulin. It results in glucose staying in in the bloodstream instead of entering cells for energy which can lead to Type 2 diabetes.

Inflammation: Fat tissue (especially visceral fat) releases inflammatory substances such as such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP). These substances impair insulin signaling and worsening insulin resistance.

Fat Accumulation in the Liver and Muscle: Ectopic fat (fat stored where it doesn’t belong) disrupts how these organs process glucose and respond to insulin.

Hormonal Disruption: Obesity affects hormones like leptin (regulates appetite) and adiponectin (increases insulin sensitivity), leading to metabolic imbalance.

Obesity → Insulin Resistance → Increased Insulin Production → Pancreas Overload → Type 2 Diabetes

90% of people with Type 2 Diabetes are overweight or obese. Losing just 5–10% of weight can significantly improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control

Why Social Media Isn’t a Substitute for Medical AdvicePress enter or click to view image in full sizeBody positivity influencers, while often well-intentioned, can sometimes have downsides

Influencers can inspire confidence, but they are not medical professionals. Following health advice from social media can be risky because:

They often ignore science based facts: While body positivity promotes self-acceptance and challenges harmful beauty standards, there are so many influencers and celebrities on social media within the movement that downplay or ignore well-established medical science about the health risks of obesity. Excess body fat, particularly visceral fat, is strongly linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Some of them blatantly Ignore these facts For "likes and viewership" in the name of positivity can unintentionally mislead audiences, blurring the line between promoting self-worth and overlooking genuine health concerns.

One-size-fits-all advice doesn’t work: People differ in genetics, lifestyle, environment, health status, and personal preferences. Something that works well for one person, whether it’s a diet, exercise routine, or treatment may not be effective for another. Personalized approaches are more effective for achieving lasting health results, something so many influencers often fails to explain.

Encouraging unhealthy habits can normalize them: As mentioned before, there are influencers that fails to give proper advice. Some even give misleading advice. Then there are those that lead people to adopt unhealthy habits in the name of body positivity. These people encourage behavior such as poor diet, inactivity, or substance misuse. It increase the risk of serious health problems. Over time, normalization reduces motivation to change and blurs the understanding of what’s genuinely healthy.

It’s similar to smoking: You can love yourself if you smoke, its your choice to smoke, but that doesn’t make smoking healthy.

How to Practice True Body PositivityPress enter or click to view image in full sizeProper diet, exercise, sufficient sleep and stress management are some of the elements of a healthy body.Here’s how to practice true body positivity and health consciousness:

Respect your body enough to care for it: Treating your body with respect means giving it the care it needs to function at its best. Regular physical activity keeps your heart, muscles, and mind strong; a balanced diet fuels you with the nutrients required for energy and repair; and periodic medical checkups help detect problems early, when they’re easier to address. Remember: It’s not about perfection, it’s about consistency and making positive choices that makes your body thrive.

Follow qualified medical advice, not viral trends: Unverified tips spreads quickly like an uncontrolled fire in the age of social media often without scientific backing. Listen to the qualified healthcare professionals who base their advice on years of training, research, and clinical evidence. They will advice exercise, diet plans and weight loss medications if needed. Trusting credible medical guidance instead of chasing every viral trend can protect you from misinformation, wasted effort, and even harm.

Acceptance and self-improvement can coexist: Like mentioned in the very beginning, everyone deserve self love and respect. Self love is important, there’s absolutely no doubt about that, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of denying reality. Self love doesn’t mean ignoring genuine health concerns. You can accept and appreciate yourself as you are while also working toward better health and well-being. True self-care involves being honest about your current condition and taking proactive steps toward improvement.

Conclusion:

Body positivity is a beautiful idea. It helps fights stigma and builds self-worth. But when it crosses into denying health risks, it becomes dangerous.

Social media can be inspiring, and words from these social media influencers and celebrities can be encouraging, but your long-term health decisions should come from professionals, not posts.

Love your body. Respect your body. Never trade short-term comfort for long-term health. And remember: Wanting to feel your best is a form of self-respect.

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