Imagine yourself sitting before a big, juicy burger. The bun is just right, and the sauces slowly ooze down the sides. Cheese is bubbling ever so gently, about to break its form and ooze alongside the sauces. The meat is greasy, and you can practically smell it through your camera lense.
Because, if you don’t put it on Instagram, then it didn’t happen, right?
Well, thanks to Instagram, a lot of people are actually losing weight. The social network is designed for sharing (and bragging if we’re being honest) and has somehow made huge waves in food photography.
People love to eat and to see what others are eating.
According to a small study out of the University of Washington, some people are successfully losing weight simply by posting their meals to Instagram.
How does this work? Imagine that delicious juicy burger that you were just about to bite into. It probably comes with some artisanal fries, sprinkled with fresh parsley and garlic (a girl can dream, right?). You would obviously be drinking a craft beer with this burger, and condiments would artfully line your plate.
Now, though this may be the best burger you can imagine yourself eating, there is no world that exists in which this burger is healthy. Plain and simple.
So though you are about to post an enviable burger to Instagram, it also brings about a certain accountability.
This is exactly the idea behind the study.
Posting pictures of your food at each meal is like keeping a food diary of all of your bites, both healthy and otherwise.
Instagram may be more successful than food diaries, though. It is socially acceptable to take a picture of your food at each meal whereas a food diary is a thing of decades past.
So many dieters are actually encouraged to hold accountability for their diets simply by participating in this social obsession.
Another benefit of social media is that there is endless support for fellow dieters. Many people post diet foods all the time to share ideas and demonstrate support. Then, the comments section serves as an open community all seeking the same goals.
So go ahead and jump onto this trend, it may be good for you!
[expand title=”References“]
UPI. URL Link. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
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