Abstract Social media is integral to adolescents’ daily lives and plays an important role in their health- and fitness-related behavior, particularly through trends such as #fitspiration, a portmanteau of “fit” and “inspiration.” This trend has become a prominent aspect of adolescents’ fitness culture. Empirical studies demonstrate that while #fitspiration holds the potential to motivate adolescents to be physically active, it also perpetuates gender-stereotyped, predominantly White, ableist, and normative body ideals associated with fitness and an idealized weight. This trend can be linked to an increased risk of body image concerns or disordered eating among adolescents. Understanding adolescents’ engagement with fitspiration content is crucial for tailoring health and media literacy education within physical education. Therefore, a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies was conducted. A search of five electronic databases yielded 312 abstracts, of which 12 met the inclusion criteria. The analysis of the selected studies was based on thematic analysis and included both primary and secondary data. Seven analytical themes emerged: (1) 37–56% of adolescents actively engage with fitspiration content on social media; (2) it fulfills their need for informal and accessible participation; (3) it fosters a sense of social connection; (4) they derive inspiration from peers and influencers; (5) they aspire to idealized body standards; (6) they seek quick solutions when dissatisfied with their bodies; and (7) a few become demotivated and critical when unable to achieve these ideals. Consequently, educators should balance the potential benefits with media literacy interventions to mitigate risks such as body image issues and eating disorders.
Grimminger‐Seidensticker et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: