Effects of Social Media on Dietary Pattern of Urban Population

The study explores the effects of social media on the dietary habits of individuals in Nagpur city. By examining commonly used social media platforms for nutrition, its awareness, acceptance and application of nutrition-based messages, this research provides insight into how digital engagement influences dietary behaviors. A descriptive research design was utilized with a sample of 144 participants, divided equally between males and females, selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected via a structured questionnaire, and anthropometric data was analyzed using BMI comparisons with WHO standards. A t-test was applied to test for significant differences in the BMI of males and females, revealing no significant difference. The average BMI of males was 22.81 kg/m² (SD = 4.8) and for females, it was 21.78 kg/m² (SD = 4.9). Findings indicate that Whets App (97%) and YouTube (79%) are the most frequently used social media platforms among respondents. Majority respondents (85.4%) are aware of general nutrition and health concepts, and many (95.3%) read nutrition-related messages for knowledge and health improvement. However, a notable portion (50.0%) lacks verification of information before sharing. The study reveals that social media influences dietary habits, with many users trying diet plans or recipes and feeling pressured to conform to certain dietary trends and body images promoted online. Despite these influences, there is no significant difference in health status or BMI between males and females. 50 % participants tried diet plans and purchased food and beverages shown on social media, thus following information these platforms. A chi-square test was performed on responses from males and females. The chi-square test results indicated that there is no significant association between male and female responses, as the p-value was greater than 0.05. This suggests that social media influences on dietary habits are similar across genders, supporting the null hypothesis. The research highlights the importance of understanding social media's role in shaping dietary habits, suggesting that public health strategies and social media campaigns should consider these findings to promote healthier eating behaviors. However, limitations such as reliance on self-reported data and the rapidly changing nature of social media trends must be acknowledged.