The Role of Social Media in Gen Z Eating Beliefs and Behaviours

Nutrition plays a vital role in health, supporting immune function and reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and obesity. A balanced diet contributes to overall well-being, while poor nutrition, whether through undernutrition or excessive weight, can lead to serious health issues. The environmental impact of food production, especially from animal-based products, is significant, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This research examines the impact of social media on the eating beliefs and behaviours of Generation Z. This digitally native generation is constantly exposed to online content, where food trends and social comparisons impact their self-image and food choices. Platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok influence their preferences, with a mix of health-conscious, plant-based trends and unhealthy fast food choices gaining traction. While social media can promote healthy habits, it also contributes to misinformation and disordered eating behaviours. Participants took part in a survey testing their demographic profile, eating habits, degree of susceptibility to social comparison, level of social media addiction, and nutritional attitudes and practices. The main goal of the study was to assess the impact of predictors such as time spent on social media, level of social media addiction, trust in social media content, and degree of social comparison on eating beliefs and behaviours. Participants demonstrated a strong alignment of beliefs and behaviours regarding nutrition. The impact of social media on food choices was noticeable, implying that the content seen on these platforms influences participants' diets. The amount of time spent online and the level of susceptibility to social comparison did show a significant impact on eating beliefs and behaviours. Future studies should examine the impact of socioeconomic status, psychological factors, and particular kinds of social media content, with larger and more varied sample sizes. A deeper understanding of these complex relationships may be possible through a mixed-methods approach while promoting more mindful social media content could help improve eating habits.