How Social Media Skews Wellness and Malta's Food Culture
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram continue to shape perceptions of weight and health, often promoting harmful diet culture under the guise of wellness content. Although hashtags like #SkinnyTok have been banned, extreme weight-loss ideologies persist, frequently targeting younger audiences and normalizing disordered eating. This is particularly concerning in Malta, where a rich culinary tradition rooted in balance and communal dining contrasts sharply with restrictive diet narratives. Algorithms often amplify sensational content, making it crucial to approach online wellness advice critically. The resurgence of thinness as an ideal also intersects with conservative ideologies, framing slimness as a marker of success and virtue. The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified these harmful trends, heightening health anxieties and moralizing weight. Maltese families can counteract this by fostering positive relationships with food, celebrating traditional recipes, and encouraging critical thinking. Limiting exposure to toxic online content and embracing the Mediterranean lifestyle—centered on nourishment, connection, and joy—offers a healthier, more holistic approach to
Navigating the Wellness Hype: How Social Media Shapes Our Perception of Weight and Health
In the age of TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms, content that claims to promote wellness often doubles as a vehicle for harmful weight-loss ideologies. While hashtags like #SkinnyTok have been banned for perpetuating unhealthy views on body image, the underlying issues are far from resolved. For those of us trying to balance health, wellness, and a love for food—especially here in Malta, a country rich in culinary tradition—the conversation around weight and social media is more relevant than ever.
The SkinnyTok Controversy
“Skinny is the new rich,” declared one TikTok creator in a now-deleted video. Statements like these perpetuate an unhealthy fixation on thinness, framing it as a marker of success, beauty, and even moral superiority. Before the hashtag was banned, #SkinnyTok amassed nearly half a million videos, many of which promoted extreme weight loss methods or vilified weight gain. TikTok has since redirected searches for such terms to mental health resources, but the problem persists. Harmful content continues to slip through the cracks, often dressed up as "wellness advice," pushing the narrative that weight is solely a matter of discipline and determination.
For food enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals in Malta, this can be particularly challenging. Our Mediterranean lifestyle, which has long celebrated fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients and a love of communal dining, risks being overshadowed by these toxic narratives. Social media algorithms don’t just suggest content passively; they actively steer users toward extreme messaging under the guise of “health tips,” making it crucial to approach online wellness content with a critical eye.
Wellness or Harm?
The issue isn’t confined to TikTok. On platforms like Instagram and YouTube, creators continue to share restrictive diets and “tough love” weight-loss mantras that can be deeply damaging. Eating disorder specialists warn that such content creates an environment where disordered eating feels normalized. For younger audiences, who may lack the critical tools to question such advice, the risks are particularly severe.
A healthy lifestyle, however, is about balance, not extremes. Malta’s culinary heritage offers a wealth of inspiration for balanced eating—think fresh fish, seasonal vegetables, and whole grains, all drizzled with heart-healthy olive oil. Rather than focusing on restrictive diets, embracing the Mediterranean way of eating can promote both physical and mental well-being. It’s a reminder that food is not the enemy; it’s fuel, culture, and joy.
The Algorithm’s Role in Shaping Our Views
Social media algorithms are designed to maximize engagement, often prioritizing sensational content over nuanced discussions. A harmless search for “healthy recipes” can quickly lead users down a rabbit hole of extreme diet culture. This is particularly concerning for individuals recovering from disordered eating, who may feel triggered by the sudden influx of weight-loss content.
Here in Malta, where food plays such a central role in social and family life, this raises important questions. How do we navigate a digital world that often contradicts our cultural values of enjoying food and celebrating life? One answer lies in mindfulness—not just in eating but in how we consume digital content. Be wary of advice that promotes rapid weight loss or frames thinness as the ultimate goal. Instead, focus on resources that celebrate holistic health, including physical activity, mental wellness, and balanced nutrition.
A Political Underpinning
Interestingly, the resurgence of thinness as an ideal isn’t occurring in isolation. Researchers have noted overlaps between extreme wellness content and conservative ideologies. Some social media influencers use their platforms to promote traditional lifestyles, positioning their slim, “healthy” bodies as proof of their superiority. This rhetoric often ties thinness to success, attractiveness, and even moral virtue, creating a harmful narrative that alienates those who don’t fit the mold.
For Maltese audiences, this can feel especially jarring. Our island’s culinary tradition is built on abundance, hospitality, and the joy of sharing meals. It’s a lifestyle that values health without obsessing over it—a far cry from the restrictive, punitive attitudes often seen online. By embracing this approach, we can reject the toxic messaging of diet culture and instead focus on what truly matters: nourishment, connection, and well-being.
The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in amplifying these harmful trends. During the pandemic, narratives around weight and health became increasingly moralized. Higher weight was often scapegoated as a risk factor for severe COVID outcomes, creating an atmosphere of fear and shame. This, combined with the rise of weight-loss medications and heightened health anxiety, created fertile ground for the resurgence of extreme diet culture.
For Maltese families, this underscores the importance of fostering resilience in the face of external pressures. Parents can play a key role in helping young people navigate these challenges by encouraging critical thinking and promoting positive relationships with food. Dining together, cooking at home, and celebrating traditional recipes are powerful ways to counteract the harmful narratives proliferating online.
Practical Steps for a Healthier Digital Diet
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by weight-loss content on your social media feeds, consider taking proactive steps to reclaim your digital space. Limit your time on platforms that make you feel anxious or inadequate, and unfollow accounts that promote restrictive diets or unrealistic body ideals. Instead, seek out creators and communities that celebrate food, health, and self-care in a balanced way. Malta’s vibrant food scene offers plenty of inspiration, from farm-to-table dining experiences to local chefs championing wholesome Mediterranean cuisine.
Finally, remember that health is deeply personal and cannot be measured by weight alone. The Mediterranean lifestyle teaches us that well-being is about more than what’s on your plate; it’s about enjoying life, connecting with loved ones, and taking care of your mind and body. Let’s reject the toxic narratives of diet culture and instead embrace a holistic, joyful approach to health.
If you’ve been affected by disordered eating or feel overwhelmed by weight-related content online, organizations like Beat offer resources and support. Remember, you are more than a number on a scale, and health is about so much more than size. Let Malta’s rich culinary heritage and balanced way of life be your guide.