User:Gcordova1/Instagrams effect on physical fitness

Fitness Media Influences
Positive effects of Instagram:

Instagram can be a community of people who post their fitness goals to motivate themselves and others. Individuals and personal trainers post weight loss transformations, at home workouts, sports, and lifestyle changes. People post and share their appreciation for the sport and introduce it to people. People in these communities can also share their progress in and gain positive feedback from their peers.

 Negative effects of Instagram: 

Instagram can also cause harm because people compare themselves to fitness professionals and models who have a very fit physique. Seeing lots of people who appear to be healthy and fit can have people comparing themselves and not liking what they see in the mirror. Seeing people who have a nice physique can make people develop eating disorders and body dysmorphia. This can lead to use of steroids and performance enhancing drugs to help improve the look of peoples physique. A side effect of doing this is people prioritize how they look and not their health which makes it unhealthy to do. people see the standards of males with big arms and abs and women as thin and lean as the ideal body type. These standards make it difficult for people on the internet to not compare themselves to these people. Body dysmorphia can cause people to value their appearance over their health. Seeing influencers with great bodies can cause some people to take anabolic steroids in order to look like the people they see online. Seeing your body image negatively can lead to negative behavior, depression and anxiety. Social media fitness can be taken negatively and affect users mental and physical health. To prevent negative effects of fitness social media the consumer should ask the credibility of the creator. Another helpful tip to help with harmful effects of fitness media is to see them as challenges and not make them demotivate you.

 Instagram during Covid-19 

During the lockdown many people were stuck inside and unable to go to gyms. This caused a lot of people to gain weight because of the lack of access to gyms, and fear of going outside. Physical fitness during Covid-19 was promoted by personal trainers unable to do their jobs in person so they transferred to online coaching. The isolation and quarantining that came with the virus closed gyms and usual places people go. With people disconnected from their usual routines, these posts helped people stay motivated and keep up with their physical appearance when there was no access to gyms.