A influência das mídias sociais sobre o comportamento alimentar de jovens e adultos

Abstract

Introduction: Social media has an increasing influence on eating habits, especially among young people, due to the widespread exposure to nutrition, aesthetics, and diet content. Objective: To investigate the influence of social media on the eating habits of young people and adults, considering sociodemographic characteristics and digitally mediated behaviors. Methods: Cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, conducted with 205 participants (≥18 years; 81.6% women). A digital questionnaire with three sections was used: sociodemographic profile; perception of influence (5-point Likert scale); and frequency of eating behaviors mediated by online content (6-point scale). Results: The majority (63.3%) used social media for more than three hours a day. Regarding the perception of influence, 4.8% reported being always influenced, 23.7% frequently, and 48.8% sometimes. There was a moderate negative correlation between age and perceived influence (r = –0.343; p < 0.001) and a weak positive correlation between female gender and total influence (r = 0.154; p = 0.028). There was no association with Body Mass Index. In terms of behavior, 53.6% followed nutrition influencers, 34.15% stopped eating after negative posts, and 78.8% rarely imitated diets. Discussion: Women and young people showed greater susceptibility, although not all digital contact results in frequent adoption of food fads, suggesting ambivalent influence. Conclusion: Social networks can promote both positive information and misinformation. It is essential that nutritionists act in the digital environment based on evidence to guide conscious dietary choices.