{"id":42786,"date":"2022-04-26T22:00:20","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T22:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=42786"},"modified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T08:35:01","slug":"social-media-and-physical-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Media And Physical Health: What&#8217;s The Relationship?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#How_Is_Social_Media_Affecting_Physical_Health\" >How Is Social Media Affecting Physical Health?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Eyestrain\" >Eyestrain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Insomnia_And_Other_Sleep_Disturbances\" >Insomnia And Other Sleep Disturbances<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Weight_Gain\" >Weight Gain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Poor_Posture\" >Poor Posture<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#How_Is_Social_Media_Affecting_Psychological_Health\" >How Is Social Media Affecting Psychological Health?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Cyberbullying\" >Cyberbullying<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Comparison\" >Comparison<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Isolation\" >Isolation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Depression_And_Anxiety\" >Depression And Anxiety<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Improving_Your_Social_Media_Habits\" >Improving Your Social Media Habits<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Limiting_Your_Screen_Time\" >Limiting Your Screen Time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Being_Mindful_Of_Your_Content\" >Being Mindful Of Your Content<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Taking_Breaks\" >Taking Breaks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Exercising\" >Exercising<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#Get_your_personalized\" >Get your personalized<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube&#8230; With so many social media platforms out there, it&#8217;s no wonder that people are spending more time than ever before, scrolling through their feeds.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And while social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family, new research suggests that there may be a downside to all that screen time. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media use has been linked to biological and psychological changes that can impact physical health. For example, one study found that people who spend more time on social media are more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5904786\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another study found that people who use social media for more than two hours a day are more likely to have poorer sleep quality and are more likely to be obese (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article\/140\/Supplement_2\/S97\/34162\/Screen-Media-Exposure-and-Obesity-in-Children-and\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So what&#8217;s the relationship between social media and physical health? Let&#8217;s review the research.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_Social_Media_Affecting_Physical_Health\"><\/span><strong>How Is Social Media Affecting Physical Health?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nature of <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/fear-of-gaining-weight\/\">social media<\/a> can have a negative impact on <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/nighttime-smoothie-for-weight-loss\/\">physical health<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, and many people find themselves spending hours upon hours scrolling through their feeds. This can lead to increased screen time, which in turn can lead to several problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eyestrain\"><\/span><strong>Eyestrain<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handheld tablets, phones, and laptops emit blue light, which can cause digital eye strain. This is a condition that results in dry eyes, headaches, neck pain, and blurry vision (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6020759\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several technological factors may lead to eyestrain, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Screen time &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The more time you spend looking at a screen, the greater your risk of developing digital eye strain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Glare &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If the light from your screen is too bright, it can cause glare and make it difficult to see.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Viewing too close or too far away &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you hold your device too close to your eyes or too far away, it can cause eye strain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Poor posture &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you sit or stand in an awkward position while using your device, it can lead to neck and back pain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Underlying health conditions &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you have an underlying health condition, such as dry eye or allergies, you may be more susceptible to digital eye strain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few ways to reduce the risk of digital eye strain, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reducing screen time &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Limit your screen time to no more than two hours per day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Taking breaks &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adjusting the settings &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Make sure the brightness on your device is set to a comfortable level.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/do-you-burn-calories-when-you-sleep\/\">Do You Burn Calories When You Sleep: If You Snooze You Lose\u2026Weight!<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38884 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5514-1024x576.png\" alt=\"social media and physical health\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5514.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5514-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5514.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5514.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Insomnia_And_Other_Sleep_Disturbances\"><\/span><strong>Insomnia And Other Sleep Disturbances<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media use has also been linked to insomnia. One study found that people who use social media late at night are more likely to experience sleep disturbances (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4857587\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another study found that people who spend <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/keratin-rich-foods\/\">more time<\/a> on social media are more likely to have poorer sleep quality (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s40675-019-00148-9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few reasons why social media use may interfere with sleep, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stimulation &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The bright lights and stimulating content on social media can make it difficult to fall asleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Anxiety &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For some people, scrolling through social media can cause anxiety and intrusive thoughts that make it difficult to fall asleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>FOMO &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a real phenomenon that can occur when you see others doing things that you&#8217;re not doing (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8283615\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). For example, you may scroll through Instagram and see your friends at a party while you&#8217;re home alone. This can cause feelings of loneliness and isolation that make it difficult to sleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Weight_Gain\"><\/span><strong>Weight Gain<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sedentary <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/body-awareness\/\">lifestyle<\/a> is one of the leading risk factors for obesity. And social media use is a major contributor to sedentary lifestyles. One study found that people who spend more time on social media are more likely to be obese (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12889-015-2314-0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few reasons why social media use may lead to weight gain, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Decreased physical activity &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Social media use can lead to decreased physical activity levels (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1319562X21000103\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This is because people who are engaged in social media are often sitting down and not moving around.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Unhealthy eating habits &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Social media can also lead to unhealthy eating habits. For example, if you see someone post a picture of a delicious-looking meal, you may be more likely to crave that same meal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few ways to combat the effects of social media on weight gain, but the most effective is to limit screen time and get regular exercise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38883 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5515-1024x576.png\" alt=\"social media and physical health\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5515.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5515-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5515.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-5515.png 1344w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Poor_Posture\"><\/span><strong>Poor Posture<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spending too much time hunched over a screen can lead to poor posture (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1936962\/#B15\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). This is because the body is not meant to be in that position for <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/rowing-for-weight-loss\/\">long periods<\/a>. Poor posture can lead to several problems, such as (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5889545\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Neck pain &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When you&#8217;re looking down at your phone, your neck is in an unnatural position. This can lead to neck pain and stiffness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Headaches &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor posture can also lead to headaches. This is because the muscles in your head and neck are strained when you&#8217;re not holding your head up properly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Back pain &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slouching can also cause back pain. This is because the spine is not in its natural position when you&#8217;re hunched over.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few ways to <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/running-in-place\/\">improve your posture<\/a>, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Standing up straight &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When you&#8217;re standing, make sure your shoulders are back and your stomach is pulled in.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sitting up straight &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When you&#8217;re sitting, make sure your back is against the chair and your feet are flat on the floor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Exercising<\/strong> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/stationary-bike-workout-plan\/\">Exercise<\/a> can help to strengthen the muscles that support your posture.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Looking for a way to <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\">break the vicious cycle of weight loss<\/a> and tone up all the jiggly parts? Watch the extra pounds fly off and your muscles firm up with the BetterMe app!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-39806 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/5-2.jpg\" alt=\"social media and physical health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/5-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/5-2-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/5-2.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Is_Social_Media_Affecting_Psychological_Health\"><\/span><strong>How Is Social Media Affecting Psychological Health?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multiple studies have been conducted on the relationship between social media and psychological health. The results of these studies have been mixed (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7364393\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some studies have found that social media use is linked to mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2673-3986\/3\/1\/2\/htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). However, other studies have found that social media use is not linked to mental health problems (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s41347-020-00134-x\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s important to remember that correlation does not equal causation. This means that just because two things are correlated, it doesn&#8217;t mean that one thing caused the other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, social media use could be correlated with mental health problems, but it could also be that people who are struggling with mental health problems are more likely to use social media.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few theories about why social media might be linked to mental health problems, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cyberbullying\"><\/span><strong>Cyberbullying<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyberbullying is a major problem on social media. People who are bullied online are at an increased risk for mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.674298\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comparison\"><\/span><strong>Comparison<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media can also lead to comparison. When you see other people&#8217;s highlight reels, you may compare your life to theirs and feel like you&#8217;re not good enough. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.apa.org\/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fppm0000047\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/2056305120912488\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-39802 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/1-2.jpg\" alt=\"BetterMe\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/1-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/1-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/1-2.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Isolation\"><\/span><strong>Isolation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media use can also lead to isolation. If you&#8217;re spending more time on social media, you&#8217;re likely spending less time interacting with people in person. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s40359-020-00421-5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Depression_And_Anxiety\"><\/span><strong>Depression And Anxiety<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The physical effects of social media use could likely trigger or worsen mental health problems that already exist. For example, if you have anxiety, the physical effects of social media use (e.g., poor sleep, neck pain, etc.) could trigger or worsen your anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Read More:<\/strong> Meditation For Insomnia: Best Techniques To Ensure A Good Night\u2019s Sleep<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improving_Your_Social_Media_Habits\"><\/span><strong>Improving Your Social Media Habits<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re concerned about the effects of social media on your health, there are a few things you can do to improve your social media habits, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Limiting_Your_Screen_Time\"><\/span><b>Limiting Your Screen Time<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best things you can do is to limit your screen time. This means setting a time limit for yourself and sticking to it. For example, you may decide to only spend 30 minutes on social media per day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Being_Mindful_Of_Your_Content\"><\/span><b>Being Mindful Of Your Content<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you&#8217;re scrolling through social media, be mindful of the content you&#8217;re consuming. If you find that something is making you feel anxious or depressed, stop looking at it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you tend to let yourself off the hook, raise the white flag when things get tougher than you expected, send yourself on an unconscious binge-eating trip \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\">BetterMe app is here to help you<\/a> leave all of these sabotaging habits in the past!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-38974 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Fitness App\" width=\"770\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1-1636x920.png 1636w, https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Frame-3935-1.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Taking_Breaks\"><\/span><strong>Taking Breaks<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure to take breaks from social media throughout the day. This will give your mind a chance to rest and reset.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exercising\"><\/span><strong>Exercising<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise is a great way to combat the effects of social media. This is because it releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting properties (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2013.00027\/full\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). So, if you&#8217;re feeling down after scrolling through social media, go for a walk or run to improve your mood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media can have a negative impact on your health if you&#8217;re not careful. But, by being mindful of your screen time and the content you&#8217;re consuming, you can mitigate some of the risks. Additionally, regular exercise is a great way to combat the negative effects of social media.<\/span><\/p>\n\n    <section class=\"ad-single-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-title-wrapper\">\n            <h3 class=\"ad-single-title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_your_personalized\"><\/span>Get your personalized<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n            <span class=\"ad-single-sub-title color-green\">\n                <svg class=\"icon-sparkle\" width=\"36\" height=\"21\" viewBox=\"0 0 36 21\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                          d=\"M34.6837 0.515943C34.8247 0.835947 34.9421 1.16291 34.9891 1.48987C35.1417 2.64466 35.3179 6.51949 35.2592 7.29863C35.2592 7.53515 35.1887 7.7995 35.0243 8.01516C34.7307 8.39777 33.9791 8.4256 33.5681 8.07081C33.4154 7.94559 33.3215 7.77863 33.2745 7.61863C33.1453 7.15254 33.0396 6.68645 32.9809 6.22035C32.8165 4.81512 32.6638 3.40293 32.5581 1.9977C32.5229 1.53161 32.6051 1.05856 32.6991 0.592466C32.7695 0.244637 33.251 -0.0197144 33.6973 0.00115537C34.2257 0.0289818 34.5546 0.230723 34.6837 0.515943ZM18.6184 9.78225C18.5734 9.67557 18.5344 9.57528 18.4971 9.47956C18.4178 9.27568 18.3465 9.09257 18.2426 8.91267C16.7159 6.24133 14.2615 3.86217 11.4665 1.60128C11.1377 1.33693 10.7267 1.08649 10.2687 0.919531C10.0221 0.829095 9.52885 0.843009 9.247 0.933445C9.03562 1.00301 8.88295 1.27432 8.92992 1.42736C9.01213 1.71954 9.18828 2.01868 9.4349 2.28303C11.0555 4.02913 12.6879 5.76829 14.3437 7.50048C14.8308 8.0068 15.3395 8.50887 15.8473 9.01L15.8473 9.01001C15.9883 9.14921 16.1293 9.28833 16.2697 9.42746C16.4811 9.64311 16.7159 9.85181 16.9626 10.0466C17.2327 10.2692 17.6437 10.4014 18.0547 10.2553C18.0691 10.2501 18.0836 10.245 18.0981 10.2399C18.1097 10.2358 18.1213 10.2318 18.1329 10.2278C18.3785 10.1424 18.6184 10.0589 18.6184 9.78225ZM1.98942 20.1407C2.17783 20.1221 2.37674 20.105 2.58175 20.0875C2.99012 20.0525 3.42272 20.0154 3.84492 19.9598C6.34632 19.6259 8.84771 19.292 11.3374 18.9442C11.8776 18.8676 12.406 18.7355 12.8875 18.5824C13.5334 18.3807 13.7566 18.0954 13.6509 17.7824C13.5452 17.4694 13.1224 17.2746 12.3826 17.2676C11.8776 17.2607 11.3374 17.2676 10.8559 17.3372C7.69683 17.8102 4.5378 18.2972 1.3905 18.7911C1.03819 18.8468 0.674137 18.9442 0.404034 19.0833C-0.2771 19.4242 -0.065712 19.9598 0.803314 20.092C1.01858 20.1228 1.25262 20.1258 1.51135 20.1291C1.66195 20.131 1.82092 20.133 1.98942 20.1407Z\"\n                          fill=\"#17B991\"\/>\n                <\/svg>\n               meal plan!\n            <\/span>\n        <\/div>\n    \n        <div class=\"ad-single-text ad-desc-wrapper\">\n            <p class=\"ad-single-desc\">What's your main health goal?<\/p>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Lose weight<\/a>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/en\/first-page-generated-gender?flow=2273&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=Social_Media_And_Physical_Health\" class=\"btn-ad btn-green\">Feel great<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n        <img class=\"ad-single-img\" alt=\"health-food\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"395\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/themes\/gridlove-child\/assets\/img\/ad\/health-food.webp\">\n    <\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube&#8230; With so many social media platforms out there, it&#8217;s no wonder that people are spending more time than ever before, scrolling through their feeds.\u00a0And while social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family, new research suggests that there may be a downside to all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42787,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,132],"tags":[],"coauthors":[122],"class_list":["post-42786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fitness-tips","category-mental-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Social Media And Physical Health: What&#039;s The Relationship? - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you know the relationship between \u2605 SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHYSICAL HEALTH? \u27a4 Check out this article to find out!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Social Media And Physical Health: What&#039;s The Relationship?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Do you know the relationship between \u2605 SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHYSICAL HEALTH? \u27a4 Check out this article to find out!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"#\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jeremy Mukhwana\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jeremy Mukhwana\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/4f45d45b585b422491b674f36ead5013\"},\"headline\":\"Social Media And Physical Health: What&#8217;s The Relationship?\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/\"},\"wordCount\":1646,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Fitness Tips\",\"Mental Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube... With so many social media platforms out there, it's no wonder that people are spending more time than ever before, scrolling through their feeds.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">And while social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family, new research suggests that there may be a downside to all that screen time. <\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Social media use has been linked to biological and psychological changes that can impact physical health. For example, one study found that people who spend more time on social media are more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5904786\/\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">).\u00a0<\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Another study found that people who use social media for more than two hours a day are more likely to have poorer sleep quality and are more likely to be obese (<\/span><a href=\\\"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article\/140\/Supplement_2\/S97\/34162\/Screen-Media-Exposure-and-Obesity-in-Children-and\\\"><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">). <\/span><span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">So what's the relationship between social media and physical health? Let's review the research.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><strong>How Is Social Media Affecting Physical Health?<\/strong><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">The nature of <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/fear-of-gaining-weight\/\\\">social media<\/a> can have a negative impact on <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/nighttime-smoothie-for-weight-loss\/\\\">physical health<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, and many people find themselves spending hours upon hours scrolling through their feeds. This can lead to inc ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/\",\"name\":\"Social Media And Physical Health: What's The Relationship? - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"Do you know the relationship between \u2605 SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHYSICAL HEALTH? \u27a4 Check out this article to find out!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":667},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Mental Health\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Social Media And Physical Health: What&#8217;s The Relationship?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"name\":\"BetterMe Blog\",\"description\":\"Health &amp; Fitness\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\",\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"alternateName\":\"Betterme Limited\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"BetterMe\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/betterme\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ\",\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236\",\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US\",\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/4f45d45b585b422491b674f36ead5013\",\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/f8c457bbfb019eee5091c2120aabff05\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-6-150x150.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Frame-6-150x150.png\",\"caption\":\"BetterMe\"},\"sameAs\":[\"#\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/author\/bttrm-admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Social Media And Physical Health: What's The Relationship? - BetterMe","description":"Do you know the relationship between \u2605 SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHYSICAL HEALTH? \u27a4 Check out this article to find out!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Social Media And Physical Health: What's The Relationship?","og_description":"Do you know the relationship between \u2605 SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHYSICAL HEALTH? \u27a4 Check out this article to find out!","og_url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_author":"#","article_modified_time":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":667,"url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jeremy Mukhwana","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jeremy Mukhwana","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/"},"author":{"name":"BetterMe","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/4f45d45b585b422491b674f36ead5013"},"headline":"Social Media And Physical Health: What&#8217;s The Relationship?","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/"},"wordCount":1646,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg","articleSection":["Fitness Tips","Mental Health"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube... With so many social media platforms out there, it's no wonder that people are spending more time than ever before, scrolling through their feeds.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And while social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family, new research suggests that there may be a downside to all that screen time. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media use has been linked to biological and psychological changes that can impact physical health. For example, one study found that people who spend more time on social media are more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5904786\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another study found that people who use social media for more than two hours a day are more likely to have poorer sleep quality and are more likely to be obese (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article\/140\/Supplement_2\/S97\/34162\/Screen-Media-Exposure-and-Obesity-in-Children-and\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So what's the relationship between social media and physical health? Let's review the research.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How Is Social Media Affecting Physical Health?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nature of <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/fear-of-gaining-weight\/\">social media<\/a> can have a negative impact on <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/nighttime-smoothie-for-weight-loss\/\">physical health<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, and many people find themselves spending hours upon hours scrolling through their feeds. This can lead to inc ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/","name":"Social Media And Physical Health: What's The Relationship? - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg","dateModified":"2024-12-16T08:35:01+00:00","description":"Do you know the relationship between \u2605 SOCIAL MEDIA AND PHYSICAL HEALTH? \u27a4 Check out this article to find out!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/shutterstock_1728918238.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/social-media-and-physical-health\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Mental Health","item":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/mental-health\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Social Media And Physical Health: What&#8217;s The Relationship?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/","name":"BetterMe Blog","description":"Health &amp; 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