Researchers from Aston University have conducted a study showing that individuals who followed healthy eating accounts on social media for just two weeks significantly increased their intake of fruits and vegetables while consuming fewer unhealthy, high-calorie snacks and sugary drinks. Previous research has indicated that positive social norms about healthy food choices can influence individuals to consume more fruits and vegetables. The research, led by Dr Lily Hawkins and supervised by Dr Jason Thomas and Professor Claire Farrow, aimed to determine whether exposure to positive representations of healthier foods on social media would have a similar effect.
The study involved 52 social media users with an average age of 22, who were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group was asked to follow healthy eating Instagram accounts, while the control group followed interior design accounts. Over a period of two weeks, participants tracked their food and beverage intake. Results showed that those following the healthy eating accounts consumed an additional 1.4 portions of fruits and vegetables per day while reducing their consumption of energy-dense items by 0.8 servings daily. This significant improvement in diet was a promising outcome compared to traditional educational and social media interventions targeting diet improvement.
Dr Thomas and the research team believe that a sense of affiliation with other social media users played a crucial role in influencing participants’ eating behaviors. Participants who felt connected to other Instagram users showed a more pronounced effect on their food choices. With only 28% of the UK population meeting the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables, finding effective ways to promote healthier eating habits is critical for preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Strategies such as using posters in canteens or bars to encourage healthy food consumption have shown success, and social media presents a valuable platform to spread positive social norms about fruit and vegetable consumption, especially among younger individuals.
Dr Thomas emphasized the potential impact of small adjustments to social media accounts in promoting healthier eating habits at no extra cost. The researchers plan to investigate whether such interventions can influence individuals’ perceptions of others’ food choices and whether the effects are sustainable over time. Dr Hawkins, now at the University of Exeter, highlighted the significance of this pilot study in demonstrating that social media can translate to real-world changes in eating behaviors. Further research is needed to determine if these results can be replicated on a larger scale within the community.
In conclusion, the study conducted by researchers from Aston University suggests that exposure to healthy eating accounts on social media can positively influence individuals to consume more fruits and vegetables and fewer unhealthy snacks and drinks. This pilot study demonstrates the potential for social media interventions to promote healthier eating habits and encourages further research to replicate these findings in a larger, more diverse sample. By leveraging the power of social media to spread positive social norms about healthy food choices, researchers aim to address the concerning trend of low fruit and vegetable consumption in the UK population and ultimately improve public health outcomes.
