The complexities and contradictions of online eating disorder content: A qualitative evidence synthesis of young people’s views and experiences
- 1EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- 2Young Advisors on Young People and Online Eating Disorder Content: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis Project, Eppi Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
Abstract
Eating disorders (ED) continue to be a concern worldwide. There is a growing focus on problematic discourse around ideal bodies as well as on how exposure to related content and spaces online might influence disordered eating and other ED symptoms. A qualitative evidence synthesis using thematic synthesis methods was conducted to explore young people’s lived experiences of online ED content. Studies were included if they provided, from 2007 onwards, views about online content from young people from OECD countries aged 11–25 years old who identified as having had an eating disorder, disordered eating or eating difficulties. This article focuses on findings from 13 included studies whereby three key themes were identified: Comparing – how online content was used to evaluate others and oneself; Curating – how young people manage this content; and Community – spaces for connection over shared experience. Participants across the studies described the complex ‘double-edged’ nature of online spaces, which can offer inclusion but can also be experienced as harmful. The synthesis outlined a lack of supportive offline mental health-promoting spaces as part of the context of young people’s online content use. Author summary: Eating disorders (ED) continue to be a major global issue, with focus on ideal body type, and food restrictions. This article explores ED symptoms and behaviour within the context of online spaces and how they might influence young people. The researchers conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis which uses thematic analysis to explore existing research data on this topic. The 13 studies included focused on young people aged between 11–25 from OECD countries. Three key themes, showing how young people interact online were, firstly ‘Comparing’ – judging their own bodies against others online; secondly, ‘Curating’ – actively controlling and filtering what they see; and finally, ‘Community’ – looking for spaces to connect over shared struggles. The main takeaway from this research was that online spaces are complex and can act as a double-edged sword by offering support but also causing harm. Young people often look for these online communities because they lack supportive mental health spaces in their offline lives.
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BibTeX
@article{khatwa2026complexities,
title = {{The complexities and contradictions of online eating disorder content: A qualitative evidence synthesis of young people’s views and experiences}},
author = {Meena Khatwa and Rebecca Rees and Claire Stansfield and Vidhi Bassi and Ceri-Nicole Wilkins and Kelly Dickson},
journal = {PLOS Digital Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pdig.0001066},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0001066},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The complexities and contradictions of online eating disorder content: A qualitative evidence synthesis of young people’s views and experiences
AU - Meena Khatwa
AU - Rebecca Rees
AU - Claire Stansfield
AU - Vidhi Bassi
AU - Ceri-Nicole Wilkins
AU - Kelly Dickson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - PLOS Digital Health
DO - 10.1371/journal.pdig.0001066
UR - https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0001066
AB - Eating disorders (ED) continue to be a concern worldwide. There is a growing focus on problematic discourse around ideal bodies as well as on how exposure to related content and spaces online might influence disordered eating and other ED symptoms. A qualitative evidence synthesis using thematic synthesis methods was conducted to explore young people’s lived experiences of online ED content. Studies were included if they provided, from 2007 onwards, views about online content from young people from OECD countries aged 11–25 years old who identified as having had an eating disorder, disordered eating or eating difficulties. This article focuses on findings from 13 included studies whereby three key themes were identified: Comparing – how online content was used to evaluate others and oneself; Curating – how young people manage this content; and Community – spaces for connection over shared experience. Participants across the studies described the complex ‘double-edged’ nature of online spaces, which can offer inclusion but can also be experienced as harmful. The synthesis outlined a lack of supportive offline mental health-promoting spaces as part of the context of young people’s online content use. Author summary: Eating disorders (ED) continue to be a major global issue, with focus on ideal body type, and food restrictions. This article explores ED symptoms and behaviour within the context of online spaces and how they might influence young people. The researchers conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis which uses thematic analysis to explore existing research data on this topic. The 13 studies included focused on young people aged between 11–25 from OECD countries. Three key themes, showing how young people interact online were, firstly ‘Comparing’ – judging their own bodies against others online; secondly, ‘Curating’ – actively controlling and filtering what they see; and finally, ‘Community’ – looking for spaces to connect over shared struggles. The main takeaway from this research was that online spaces are complex and can act as a double-edged sword by offering support but also causing harm. Young people often look for these online communities because they lack supportive mental health spaces in their offline lives.
SN - 2767-3170
ER -