Open social media for even just a few minutes, and eventually a “what I eat in a day” video will appear on your feed. In such a video, a health influencer in her twenties might show us her restricted daily food intake. As diet culture becomes ever more prominent, many influencers enjoy sharing “what I eat in a day” videos, which can be really damaging to teenagers’ sense of body image.
For instance, American actress and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow faced controversy in 2023, when sharing her wellness routine on her podcast The Art of Being Well. “I have bone broth for lunch a lot of the days”, Paltrow says, “and I eat a lot of vegetables for dinner.”
Due to Paltrow’s widespread recognition through films in Iron Man, many fans interpret her diet as aspirational or ideal. However, what is presented as wellness can blur into restriction, normalizing eating disorders that are not nutritionally sufficient for most people.
“There are so many harmful things out there, and you don’t necessarily know who to trust because people can market themselves by flaunting their medical degree, or being a nutritionist, dietician, or even an influencer. You don’t know who to trust because when someone’s trying to sell you something, they usually don’t have your health in mind. They have your money in mind,” says Dr. Natalie Zervas, Director of Counseling and Wellness Education at Dana Hall.
Besides Paltrow, social media platforms are filled with influencers who frame highly restrictive eating habits as discipline and self-care.
Victoria Paris, a 27-year-old fitness influencer who lost a noticeable amount of weight in 2025, received comments from people asking for a workout and diet routine, proving how idolized a skinny body is. As a response, Paris shared her restricted daily diet and her workout routine.
A raw vegan influencer known on social media as Zhanna D’Art passed away in 2023 at 39 years old after promoting a fruit-only diet on her social media platforms. She died due to starvation and extreme exhaustion.
The problem is not just the content itself, but the way it is packaged: aesthetically pleasing meals, curated routines, and language that disguises harmful behaviors as clean eating or balance. For young audiences especially, this creates a distorted understanding of what healthy eating actually looks like. Instead of listening to their own hunger cues or nutritional needs, viewers are encouraged to compare, measure, and control.
“I believe that it’s important for people to recognize that you can never know what someone else’s body needs just by looking at them. Sometimes people are born with a genetically thinner body, or a larger body,” says Dr. Zervas.
Additionally, individuals who are vulnerable to eating disorders or are in recovery may be impacted more. I think seeing restrictive diets constantly reinforced online can act as a trigger, making it harder to maintain progress or a healthy mindset around food. What might seem like a harmless “what I eat in a day” video can reinforce obsessive thinking, guilt around eating, or the idea that less food equals more success.
Ultimately, the normalization of restrictive diets under the cover of wellness reflects a larger issue of prioritizating appearance and control over genuine health.
These diets not only can result in many physical detriments such as heart problems, loss of bone mass, and fatigue, they can also hinder people’s inclination to physical activities. I believe this is most damaging as it stops people from experiencing life at its fullest, constantly being distracted by the worries of food.
Social media has amplified this message, turning individual choices into widespread influence without accountability. If platforms and influencers continue to present these behaviors as ideal, the consequences will extend beyond trends, shaping how an entire generation understands food, health, and self-worth.
I strongly implore that if you ever struggle with eating disorders, or notice anyone you know struggling, it would be extremely helpful to talk to someone you trust. At Dana Hall specifically, if you struggle with opening up, the counselors and nurses are always a great resource to reach out to.
On social media specifically, if your algorithm is filled with unhealthy diet cultures, you can simply press “not interested” to decrease the spread of misguided information. This way, you can make sure your algorithm is not crowded with messages that can be detrimental to your mental and physical health. If you are ever unsure about whether to click “not interested”, if a video brings any minute amount of doubt, you should certainly remove it from your feed. Make sure the influences presented towards you lead you to greater vitality and not harm.
Image Source: Geode Health