Diabulima and social media

Abstract

Diabulimia is described as the Disordered Eating Behavior in which insulin is misused for weight loss purposes. Insulin restriction/omission has been reported in one of three women with diabetes type 1 in the UK. Psychological and socio-cultural factors have been portrayed as influential in the development of this practice. Evidence has shown a combination between insulin restriction and other behaviors such as binging. Nowadays, social media plays a vital role in the daily interactions and emotional discharge of this population. The focus on an ideal physical appearance shown in virtual platforms negatively influences the body's self-perception, increasing the risk of harmful weight loss practices. There is a big Diabetes Online Community, among the different social media, on which individuals rely to connect with others and share their own experiences. People with Diabulimia constantly face the combination of these two types of online content. It has not been well established yet an association between social media use and Diabulimia