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A thematic content analysis of #cheatmeal images on social media: Characterizing an emerging dietary trend
Citation
Pila, E and Mond, JM and Griffiths, S and Mitchison, D and Murray, SB, A thematic content analysis of #cheatmeal images on social media: Characterizing an emerging dietary trend, The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 50, (6) pp. 698-706. ISSN 0276-3478 (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2017 Wiley Periodicals
Abstract
Despite the pervasive social endorsement of "cheat meals" within pro-muscularity online communities,
there is an absence of empirical work examining this dietary phenomenon. The present study
aimed to characterize cheat meals, and explore the meaning ascribed to engagement in this practice.
Thematic content analysis was employed to code the photographic and textual elements of a
sample (n 5 600) that was extracted from over 1.6 million images marked with the #cheatmeal tag
on the social networking site, Instagram. Analysis of the volume and type of food revealed the
presence of very large quantities (54.5%) of calorie-dense foods (71.3%) that was rated to qualify
as an objective binge episode. Photographic content of people commonly portrayed highlymuscular
bodies (60.7%) in the act of intentional body exposure (40.0%). Meanwhile, textual content
exemplified the idealization of overconsumption, a strict commitment to fitness, and a rewardbased
framework around diet and fitness. Collectively, these findings position cheat meals as goaloriented
dietary practices in the pursuit of physique-ideals, thus underscoring the potential clinical
repercussions of this socially-endorsed dietary phenomenon.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | binge eating, cheat meal, content analysis, eating disorders |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Health services and systems |
Research Field: | Mental health services |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Mental health |
UTAS Author: | Mond, JM (Dr Jon Mond) |
ID Code: | 123103 |
Year Published: | 2017 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 32 |
Deposited By: | UTAS Centre for Rural Health |
Deposited On: | 2017-12-15 |
Last Modified: | 2018-08-24 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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