Archives of Current Research International

The use of the Internet and social media has gained importance due to academic interests. Social media is seen as a potent tool for reaching, influencing and changing physical activity and diet-related habits. This study investigated the influence of social media usage on the nutritional status of adolescent girls. A sample of 300 students aged 16-18 years was randomly selected from rural and urban schools of Hoshiarpur district. A detailed study on a sub-sample of 120 subjects was conducted, divided into social media users (more than 1.5 hours daily) and non-users (less than 1.5 hours daily), with equal representation from rural and urban areas. Data on demographics, family background, dietary habits, and medical history were collected through interviews. Anthropometric measurements and BMI calculations were performed. Dietary intake was assessed using the 24-hour recall method and compared with recommended dietary allowances (RDA). The urban subjects exhibited a higher frequency of social media (SM) engagement, including more frequent visits, increased time spent on social media platforms, following online influencers and comparing physical appearances with social media influencers, in contrast to rural subjects. Moreover, urban individuals expressed a greater fear of gaining weight with 64.5 per cent reporting this concern compared to 52.6 per cent of rural subjects. The study found that 84.2 per cent of urban and 81.4 per cent of rural subjects acknowledged that influencers have the capability to impact their lifestyle, buying habits, attitude and behaviour, prompting them to follow specific influencers. The study concluded that social media significantly influences dietary habits, leading to food cravings and unhealthy eating patterns and hence, there is a need to regulate the use of social media as an effective tool for promoting core foods, healthy lifestyles, for holistic development of adolescents.