Is SkinnyTok Just Pro-Ana Content in Wellness Packaging?

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Hey friends!

If you've spent any time on TikTok recently, (it also seems to be making its way to Instagram as well) you might have noticed a concerning trend emerging. Videos promoting extreme thinness, restrictive eating patterns, and body-focused content are filling up feeds under what's being called "SkinnyTok."

What makes this trend particularly concerning is how it echoes the harmful messaging many of us remember from the early 2000s, but with a modern wellness-focused rebrand that makes it harder to recognize.

Maybe this hasn’t shown up in your feed (yet?) so it hasn’t impacted you.. however I think it’s important for all of us to be paying attention to because it highlights a wider societal shift.

Note: this post is going to talk about some of the real problematic things that creators are saying so read with caution.

What SkinnyTok Really Is

SkinnyTok isn't just about celebrating extreme thinness. It's diet culture disguised as health and wellness.

Scroll through this corner of TikTok and you'll find:

• "What I eat in a day" content showcasing highly restrictive eating patterns

• Thin women repackaging toxic 90s and 2000s (pro-ana) diet advice as revolutionary

• Creators claiming they healed their relationship with food by losing weight

• Tips for suppressing appetite or avoiding hunger, presented as "health hacks"

• Wellness terminology used to promote eating disorders

Why This Trend Deserves Attention

In our recent podcast episode, Sam and I discussed why this repackaging of extreme diet culture reminise

The most concerning aspect is how SkinnyTok often positions itself as immune to criticism. When questioned, defenders respond: "What's wrong with eating nutritious food? What's wrong with wanting to be healthy? What’s wrong with exercise? Or my personal favorites… “If you think SkinnyTok is toxic, you’re toxic!”.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with any of those behaviors. What's problematic is when these behaviors are presented almost exclusively as tools to achieve thinness, with actual health benefits as a secondary consideration.

As someone in recovery from an eating disorder, I recognize many warning signs in this content. While the language has evolved, the underlying messages share concerning similarities with what fueled my own disordered eating.

The Context Often Missing from the Conversation

What SkinnyTok rarely acknowledges is the range of circumstances that influence our relationships with food and our bodies:

• Different time constraints and responsibilities

• Varying access to food options and exercise opportunities

• Diverse genetic factors that impact body composition

• Different life priorities and values

When these factors aren't acknowledged, it creates a narrow vision of "health" that many people can't reasonably attain—not because of personal failure, but because of legitimate life circumstances.

One of the few photos I allowed to be taken on that trip. Also sorry to my sorority who is now associated with this. I was almost kicked out of it due to my addiction/ eating issues but managed to skirt by!!

I was the perfect target audience for this content years ago.

I vividly remember being in Costa Rica with my family, refusing to join them for dinner because I was on a "clean eating" kick. I'd lecture everyone about food combining and toxins while secretly raiding the hotel mini bar at night.

My poor dad would get so frustrated with the charges, which led to huge fights where I'd defensively insist I was just being "healthy" while demolishing overpriced candy bars behind closed doors.

The cognitive dissonance was exhausting. I was convinced food was the enemy and that if I could just cut out enough things, I'd finally feel in control.

Spoiler alert: It didn't work. The more I restricted, the more obsessed I became.

Beyond Physical Appearance

Here's something important that gets lost in SkinnyTok conversations: If you don't feel content with yourself at one weight, simply changing your body size rarely resolves those deeper feelings.

The underlying issues of self-criticism, feelings of inadequacy, and tying your worth to appearance don't automatically resolve when your body changes. They often just find new target

As I shared in our podcast, one of the most liberating realizations in my recovery was deciding that my body is the least interesting thing about me. Not that I don't care about my health or well-being—but that they don't define my worth or limit my joy.

The infamous lady whose methods I was obsessed with, who preached a confusing diet of fruits and vegetables, lean fish, goat cheese(?!), green juice - NEVER TOGETHER- and Whiskey if you drink (because it’s the cleanest alcohol). I wish this was a joke.

Finding Balance in a Body-Obsessed Culture

If you're feeling the influence of SkinnyTok content or noticing its impact on your relationship with your body, here are some thoughtful approaches:

The "Influenced vs. Inspired" Reflection

When consuming content about health or bodies, consider:

• Influenced: Do I feel pressure, anxiety, or like I'm not measuring up?

• Inspired: Do I feel energized, curious, or supported on my own journey?

This simple reflection can help you curate content that genuinely supports your well-being.

Journal Prompts for Deeper Reflection

1. What would enrich your life if you spent less mental energy thinking about your body? What interests or relationships might flourish?

2. What qualities do you hope people appreciate about you that have nothing to do with appearance? How can you nurture these qualities?

3. When do you feel most comfortable in your body? What activities or environments create that feeling?

Practical Approaches

1. Mindful media consumption: Consider how different accounts and content make you feel, and adjust accordingly.

2. Diverse perspectives: Intentionally follow accounts that showcase different approaches to health and well-being.

3. Reflection before action: Before making changes based on social media trends, take time to consider your true motivations and whether the change aligns with your values.

Listen to Our Full SkinnyTok Discussion!

Want the FULL breakdown of this trend? In our latest podcast episode, Sam and I dive deep into SkinnyTok, analyzing real examples, unpacking the psychology behind it, and sharing our personal experiences navigating diet culture.

🎧 LISTEN NOW: "We Need to Talk about SkinnyTok"

We cover so much more than we could fit in this blog post, including:

• The specific red flags that distinguish harmful content from actual health advice

• Practical strategies for building genuine body acceptance

• The broader cultural shifts driving this trend

• Our thoughts on Remi Bader

Join the Conversation

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this trend. Have you noticed this type of content in your feed? What has your experience been? How do you navigate wellness content while maintaining a healthy perspective?

After you listen to the episode, come back and share your thoughts below!

—Amanda (and Sam)

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