Leveraging Machine Learning to Identify Gendered Stereotypes and Body Image Concerns on Diet and Fitness Online Forums

Understand

The pervasive expectations about ideal body types in Western society can lead to body image concerns, dissatisfaction, and in extreme cases, eating disorders and other psychopathologies related to body image.

• While previous research has focused on online pro-anorexia communities glorifying the "thin ideal," less attention has been given to the broader spectrum of body image concerns or how emerging disorders like muscle dysmorphia ("bigorexia") present on online platforms.
• To address this gap, we analyze 46 Reddit forums related to diet, fitness, and mental health.
• We map these communities along gender and body ideal dimensions, revealing distinct patterns of emotional expression and community support.