THE IMPACT OF INSTAGRAM ON BODY IMAGE AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS IN YOUNG WOMEN - A LITERATURE REVIEW
Abstract
Introduction: Instagram, as a platform strongly based on visual content, plays a significant role in shaping appearance ideals, self-perception of body image, and health behaviors among young women. Exposure to idealized content, influencers, and fitspiration materials increases the tendency toward social comparisons and may influence self-esteem, eating habits, and physical activity.
Methods: This narrative review was based on searches in PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between 2015 and 2025. The analysis included empirical works focusing on women aged 15–35, examining the impact of Instagram use on body image, social comparisons, health behaviors, and psychological well-being.
Results: Idealized content and fitspiration are consistently associated with increased body dissatisfaction, more frequent social comparisons, and a higher risk of eating disorders. Instagram may enhance motivation for physical activity; however, this motivation is often driven by appearance-related pressure, contributing to compulsive exercise. Body-positive content improves mood and body acceptance, although its influence on long-term health behaviors remains limited. Negative outcomes are intensified by factors such as psychological susceptibility and internalization of appearance ideals.
Conclusions: Instagram significantly affects body image and health behaviors in young women. Appearance-focused content is linked to poorer well-being, whereas messages promoting body acceptance may offer protective effects. Further longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective health-promoting interventions.
References
Perloff, R. M. (2014). Social media effects on young women’s body image concerns: Theoretical perspectives and an agenda for research. Sex Roles, 71(11–12), 363–377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-014-0384-6
Alessi Longa, F., Shabbir, S., & Zaid, D. (2025). Influence of social media on self-esteem and body image. Research Journal of Psychology, 3(4), 138–150. https://doi.org/10.59075/rjs.v3i4.256
Alfonso-Fuertes, I., Alvarez-Mon, M. A., Sanchez Del Hoyo, R., Ortega, M. A., Alvarez-Mon, M., & Molina-Ruiz, R. M. (2023). Time spent on Instagram and body image, self-esteem, and physical comparison among young adults in Spain: Observational study. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e42207. https://doi.org/10.2196/42207
Taylor, J., & Armes, G. (2024). Social comparison on Instagram and its relationship with self-esteem and body-esteem. Discover Psychology, 4, Article 126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00241-3
Jiménez-García, A. M., Arias, N., Hontanaya, E. P., & colleagues. (2025). Impact of body-positive social media content on body image perception. Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, Article 153. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01286-y
Fenech, J. (2022). Perspective of young women about the effect of Instagram on body image and self-esteem [Bachelor’s dissertation, University of Malta]. UM OAR. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101526
Nelson, S. L., Harriger, J. A., Miller-Perrin, C., & Rouse, S. V. (2022). The effects of body-positive Instagram posts on body image in adult women. Body Image, 42, 338–346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.07.013
Glaser, H. C., Jansma, S. R., & Scholten, H. (2024). A diary study investigating the differential impacts of Instagram content on youths’ body image. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11, 458. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02960-3
Pedalino, F., & Camerini, A.-L. (2022). Instagram use and body dissatisfaction: The mediating role of upward social comparison with peers and influencers among young females. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1543. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031543
Brown, Z., & Tiggemann, M. (2016). Attractive celebrity and peer images on Instagram: Effect on women’s mood and body image. Body Image, 19, 37–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.08.007
Piccoli, V., Carnaghi, A., Grassi, M., & Bianchi, M. (2022). The relationship between Instagram activity and female body concerns: The serial mediating role of appearance-related comparisons and internalization of beauty norms. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 32(4), 728–743. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2586
Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7(2), 117–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202
Wang, W., Wang, M., Hu, Q., Wang, P., Lei, L., & Jiang, S. (2020). Upward social comparison on mobile social media and depression: The mediating role of envy and the moderating role of marital quality. Journal of Affective Disorders, 270, 143–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.173
Stefana, A., Dakanalis, A., Mura, M., Colmegna, F., & Clerici, M. (2022). Instagram use and mental well-being: The mediating role of social comparison. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 210(12), 960–965. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000001577
Taylor, J., & Armes, G. (2024). Social comparison on Instagram, and its relationship with self-esteem and body-esteem. Discover Psychology, 4, 126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00241-3
McComb, S. E., & Mills, J. S. (2021). Young women’s body image following upwards comparison to Instagram models: The role of physical appearance perfectionism and cognitive emotion regulation. Body Image, 38, 49–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.03.012
Rüther, L., Jahn, J., & Marksteiner, T. (2023). #influenced! The impact of social media influencing on self-esteem and the role of social comparison and resilience. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1216195. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1216195
Jiménez-García, A. M., Arias, N., Hontanaya, E. P., Sánchez-Murcia, E., Suso-Ribera, C., & Trujillo, M. (2025). Impact of body-positive social media content on body image perception. Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 153. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01286-y
Breves, P. L., van Berlo, Z. M. C., Teunissen, L., König, L., Binder, A., & Naderer, B. (2025). Happier and healthier? Investigating the longitudinal impact of body-positive and fitspirational influencers on weight satisfaction, healthy eating, and physical activity. Health Communication, 40(12), 2522–2534. https://doi.org/10.1080/104
Prichard, I., Kavanagh, E., Mulgrew, K. E., Lim, M. S. C., & Tiggemann, M. (2020). The effect of Instagram #fitspiration images on young women’s mood, body image, and exercise behaviour. Body Image, 33, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.02.002
Ladwig, G., Tanck, J. A., Quittkat, H. L., & Vocks, S. (2024). Risks and benefits of social media trends: The influence of “fitspiration”, “body positivity”, and text-based “body neutrality” on body dissatisfaction and affect in women with and without eating disorders. Body Image, 50, 101749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101749
Davey, C., Newman, E., Hare, J., Wilkinson, A., & O’Rourke, L. (2025). Risk of Instagram dieting trends on eating behaviour and body satisfaction in women of different age and body mass index. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 10, 586–595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-024-00464-0
Kinkel-Ram, S. S., Staples, C., Rancourt, D., & Smith, A. R. (2022). Food for thought: Examining the relationship between low calorie density foods in Instagram feeds and disordered eating symptoms among undergraduate women. Eating Behaviors, 47, 101679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2022.101679
Fioravanti, G., Cassioli, E., Rossi, E., Casale, S., & Gori, A. (2024). The relationship between problematic Instagram use and eating disorders psychopathology: An explanatory structural equation model. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 59, 1617–1627. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-023-02477-1
Thompson, K. A., Miller, A. J., Walsh, E. C., & Bardone-Cone, A. M. (2023). Social media and disordered eating among middle-aged women: Not just an adolescent concern. Eating Behaviors, 50, 101748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101748
Bayram, H. M., & Ozturkcan, A. (2025). Digital influences on diet: Instagram addiction, picky eating, and their impact on heart-healthy eating patterns. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 38(5), e70119. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.70119
Prichard, I., Kavanagh, E., Mulgrew, K. E., Lim, M. S. C., & Tiggemann, M. (2020). The effect of Instagram #fitspiration images on young women's mood, body image, and exercise behaviour. Body Image, 33, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.02.002
Tricás-Vidal, H. J., Vidal-Peracho, M. C., Lucha-López, M. O., Hidalgo-García, C., Monti-Ballano, S., Márquez-Gonzalvo, S., & Tricás-Moreno, J. M. (2022). Impact of fitness influencers on the level of physical activity performed by Instagram users in the United States of America: Analytical cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21), 14258. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114258
Curtis, R. G., Ryan, J. C., Edney, S. M., & Maher, C. A. (2020). Can Instagram be used to deliver an evidence-based exercise program for young women? A process evaluation. BMC Public Health, 20, 1506. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09563-y
Copyright (c) 2025 Anna Baranowska, Aleksandra Oparcik, Kinga Szyszka, Anastazja Orłowa, Kamil Turlej, Laura Kurczoba, Anita Pakuła, Marta Cieślak, Klaudia Martyna Patrzykąt, Julia Pawłowska
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles are published in open-access and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Hence, authors retain copyright to the content of the articles.
CC BY 4.0 License allows content to be copied, adapted, displayed, distributed, re-published or otherwise re-used for any purpose including for adaptation and commercial use provided the content is attributed.
