A relação do uso do instagram como comportamento de risco associado aos transtornos alimentares

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between Instagram use and the development of eating disorders, focusing on its impact on adolescents and young women. The research was conducted through a bibliographic review with a qualitative and interpretative approach, based on national and international scientific publications from 2013 to 2025. The analysis was grounded in theories related to social comparison, body image, and mental health. The findings revealed that Instagram, due to its visual and aesthetic nature, fosters comparison with idealized body standards, intensifying feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction. These factors are strongly associated with dysfunctional eating behaviors, such as prolonged fasting, restrictive diets, laxative use, and binge eating episodes. Adolescents and young women were identified as the most vulnerable groups, due to greater exposure to aesthetic pressures and internalization of thinness ideals. It is concluded that problematic Instagram use acts as a significant risk factor for the emergence and maintenance of eating disorders, reinforcing the need for preventive actions, such as digital education and mental health promotion in online environments.