On TikTok, a new toxic trend is causing increasing concern: the hashtag #SkinnyTok, where thousands of videos encourage extreme weight loss, even food deprivation.
Behind catchy music and appealing editing, there are disturbing messages:
- “Nothing tastes as good as being thin.”
- “Stop rewarding yourself with food, you're not a dog.”
- “Would you like to have a snack? Or become one?”
This content trivialises dangerous behaviour, encouraging people to skip meals, drink only water to «fill themselves up», or eat only very small portions. All of this is often disguised as «discipline» or a «healthy routine».
A trend with serious consequences
Within three weeks, more than 50,000 videos have been published under this hashtag. But behind the viral effect lies a highly problematic discourse, often linked to the movement. pro-ana (pro-anorexia), which encourages calorie intake well below vital requirements, sometimes less than 1,000 calories per day.
According to Public Health France, one in four teenagers exhibits mild forms of eating disorders. These practices can have dramatic effects on their physical and mental health, especially in adolescents, whose bodies are still developing.
Eating disorders on the rise
Experts remind us that this type of content fuels eating disorders (EDs), such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder. In France, nearly one million people are affected by these disorders, which are often silent and complex to diagnose.
Social media plays a significant role in their onset or worsening. Repeated exposure to content that glorifies thinness or promotes unrealistic routines creates a altered body image, particularly among younger people, who are still developing their identity.
Retouched bodies, filters, perfect staging... What we see online is often very far from reality.
But when you are constantly confronted with it, you may end up believing that it is the norm, or even that it is desirable.
Talk, alert, support
If you recognise yourself in these behaviours, if you feel obsessed with food or weight, or if you are worried about a friend:
- Report this content,
- Talk to someone about it. trusted adult or to a healthcare professional,
- Take appointment if necessary within a Teenagers' Centre from your department,
- From associations are here to help you.
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