Animal-based diets are a rising trend on social media that preach the physical benefits of eating raw meat, dairy, eggs and fruit. Despite some fitness influencers’ claims about the health benefits, animal-based diets are not scientifically proven to be a good choice for many people. With the popularization of fitness culture, social media platforms have become a primary source of misinformation and the promotion of fad diets.
According to USA Today, home workout videos on YouTube rose 515% during COVID-19. In these videos, many health and fitness influencers post about their rigorous training, eating routines and avoidance of harmful everyday items.
Influencers who show off ideal body types online can impact individuals’ relationships to food and exercise. “I think that TikTok or Instagram gives a false sense of what a good body type is,” Chef David said. “We can all have different body types and still be healthy.”
“Content online has helped me educate myself and motivate me towards a strong body,” Lawson Smith ‘26 said. “But sometimes it gets to be a little too much. Some people are on steroids and have unattainable bodies that a lot of people might think are realistic to get.”
The desire for a specific body type is especially prominent in teens and young adults. The National Library of Medicine reports that social media usage leads to body image concerns, eating disorders and poor mental health. And according to the National Institute of Health, 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 report using a social media platform.
“It can be really misleading, seeing all these things that are supposed to help you lose or gain weight quickly when it’s really just about consistency and how much you’re eating,” Ajay Haddad ‘26 said.
There are many products on the internet that claim to aid with fast weight loss, which can leave both adults and teens unclear about what is safe and what actually works. Chef David said, “There’s this matcha thing I’ve seen on Facebook. Supposedly you just put it in your coffee and magically lose weight.”
Matcha.com — a website where one can purchase matcha products and tools — acknowledges that the tea does not work weight-loss miracles. A 2023 article posted on the website states, “There is no quick fix when it comes to weight loss, but matcha is a great addition to a comprehensive weight-loss program.”
Content on social media is not always based in science-backed research. A survey done by MyFitnessPal in 2024 suggests that only around 2% of diet information and advice on social media is accurate.
For example, according to the World Health Organization, a healthy diet consists of fruits, legumes, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. This contrasts with the animal-based diets commonly promoted on social media, which are centered around meat, fruit and raw dairy.
While some influencers do use scientific research to support their workout or diet regimens, it can be difficult to sort out legitimately beneficial practices from unhealthy or ineffective ones.
For example, some animal-based diet influencers cite studies showing how hormone disrupting chemicals such as BPAs can transfer from everyday objects into the human bloodstream. “If you care about your testosterone, never touch receipts,” Fitness Influencer Nathan Sages said in an Instagram Reel.
“The plastic lining of aluminum cans can contain endocrine hormone disruptors with phthalates, parabens and BPAs,” Health Influencer Paul Saladino said in an Instagram Reel. “Plastic is so insidious today and quite toxic for humans.”
Despite these claims, the process of making aluminum cans removes almost all BPAs, according to the Canadian Beverage Association.
Social media made the definition of health increasingly fluid in recent years, allowing many influencers online to promote their idea of what a healthy lifestyle might look like despite a lack of scientific evidence.
“I think we can get some of our information from social media, but we should take it with a grain of salt,” Haddad said. “You have to be actively thinking if you decide to consume content like that.”
