TikTok’s ‘SkinnyTok’ community has been compared to ‘pro-anorexia’ and ‘pro-eating disorder’ groups

" SkinnyTok " is a genre of videos about weight loss videos about disordered eating in pursuit of thinness.

TikTok says it has cracked down on these types of posts, saying pro-eating disorder content is banned on its platform.

But experts say social media and the widespread nature of GLP-1 weight loss drugs (which are often advertised on the platforms) can be triggering.

Eating disorders have the second -highest mortality rate of any mental health-related disorder.

They have been on the rise worldwide for decades , doubling in the general population from 2000 to 2018 .

Between 2018 and 2022 , health visits for eating disorders doubled in the US for kids and teenagers.

Registered dietician Michelle Pillepich says SkinnyTok videos often promote weight stigma.

Imeh says he’s not trolling, but stating “literal facts” that he does n’t sugarcoat .

In late 2024 , TikTok banned a controversial weight loss influencer whose content glorified extreme thinness.

Eating disorder recovery practitioners say that posting anti-“SkinnyTok” videos on the same platform is likely helpful, but that it's only a first step.