Caution with ED Social Media Content

If you've ever searched #EDRecovery on TikTok, you're not alone. Many people in recovery turn to social media for support, inspiration, and hope. But a new study in the International Journal of Eating Disorders suggests it's worth approaching this content with a critical eye.

Researchers analyzed 250 TikTok videos labeled as eating disorder (ED) recovery and examined the feeds of individuals with diagnosed EDs. Their findings raise important questions about whether recovery content is always as recovery-focused as it appears. 

The biggest takeaway was that about half of the recovery-tagged videos also contained elements that could reinforce ED thoughts or behaviors. These included body comparisons, calorie counting, "what I eat in a day" videos, and content that subtly glorified restrictive behaviors.

Researchers also found that people who were shown more recovery content were also more likely to be shown pro-eating disorder content in their TikTok feeds, suggesting the algorithm often groups these types of videos together.

Interestingly, the study did not find that viewing more recovery content was associated with better or worse ED symptoms. However, the authors note the study was relatively small, so larger studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions.

It’s important to keep in mind: Recovery hashtags are not a guarantee that content is truly recovery-supportive.

As a RD, I encourage clients to pay attention to how content makes them feel, rather than how it's labeled.

Social media can be a valuable source of connection, but it shouldn't replace evidence-based treatment or your treatment team. If a "recovery" account leaves you feeling more anxious, guilty, or preoccupied with food and your body, it's okay to unfollow, mute, or click "Not Interested."

Reference

Griffiths, S., Martyn, I., Kannan, H., et al. (2026). Blurring the Boundaries: An Investigation of Eating Disorder Recovery Content on TikTok. International Journal of Eating Disorders.