Whoops. . . this is awkward. Waiting for what turned out to be a quite short-lived in TikTokinfluencers across the social media platform joined forces for one last problematic trend. “Since we’re all going to die, there’s one last secret I feel I must share with you,” says the popular voice. From here, various content creators took the opportunity to share a final confession – many of them still under the impression that TikTok was about to be gone for good.
While several of the TikTok confessions were relatively harmless (the reveal of the face of the Duolingo mascot . . . slow claps) others left us feeling more betrayed than amused. Unsurprisingly, some of the most shocking secrets came from the mouths of popular “fitfluencers.” It was almost impressive to hear as many people as we once saw on fitness inspo credit Ozempic for their results, Brazilian deadlifts (BBL)or completely different training sessions. Now that trust has been broken, where do we go from here?
Even if you’re not familiar with the label, you’ve probably come across fitfluencers at your FYP. Consider people sharing impossibly perfect physiques, workout tips, workout routines, and the occasional smoothie recipe (undisclosed Bloom ad notwithstanding). Their the training sets always matchthey don’t believe in cheat days and – despite their challenging training routines – they hardly ever break a sweat. Their content is meant to be ambitious, but also useful, which is what makes these confessions particularly disappointing. The reality is that we live in an age where anyone and everyone can claim to be an expert – especially on social media. But with hundreds and thousands of people claiming to hold the key to a healthier, stronger you, it’s important to know how to sort the actual experts from the fakes. Ahead, we talked to experts about the effects of ill-fitting fluencers and what you should consider looking for instead.
Experts featured in this article:
Sabrina YeahPhD, is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer and Health Coach.
Jeanette Jenkins/a> is a health coach, creator of The Hollywood Trainer Club/a> and trainer for celebrities such as P!nk, Alicia Keys and Jurnee Smollett.
Sarah ClosetPhD, is a history professor at California State University Long Beach and an E-RYT 500 yoga instructor.
Fitfluencer Risks
As with most things on social media, fitfluencers are not inherently good or bad. Still, it’s important to know how to spot creators without real credentials so you can take their advice with a grain of salt (especially in light of all these TikTok confessions). “Non-accredited influencers can inadvertently promote unsafe practices, unrealistic expectations, and quick fixes,” says ACE-certified trainer, Sabrena Jo, PhD. This misinformation can lead to discouragement about your own results at best and injury at worst.
But it’s not just fitfluencer content you should be wary of. Even fitness inspiration content, often known as #fitspo, can have dire consequences. According to a systematic review of the effects of “fitspiration” on body image, fitspo actually increased body dissatisfaction, increased comparisons of physical appearance, and lowered mood—especially in younger populations.
Dr. Jo confirms that young people and fitness newcomers are particularly susceptible to fitspo and other bad health advice. “Individuals new to exercise may not have the knowledge to distinguish between credible advice and potentially harmful recommendations,” she says. Likewise, many young people can still develop their self-image.
Benefits of Fitfluencer
That said, there are still plenty of fitfluencers making great content (for free). “The rise of fitness influencers has greatly democratized access to fitness information and motivation,” said Dr. Yes. Following accredited fitness professionals can be a great way to stay motivated, find new exercise ideas and foster a sense of community, she says.
“Each fitfluencer can motivate you to want to move your body, which can be a very positive trait,” adds trainer Jeanette Jenkins. “But (the rise of fitness influencers) has also led to the spread of misinformation and potentially harmful practices, which is why it’s critical for consumers to be discerning and critical of the fitness content they consume online,” notes Dr. Jo.
How to find a reliable Fitfluencer
Instead of telling you to block any exercise-adjacent account on your feed, here’s what you should look for when determining if someone is a reputable fitness pro, says Dr. Yes.
- References: “Accredited professionals are more likely to provide safe, realistic and sustainable fitness advice, reducing the risks associated with incorrect information.” Dr. Jo says. Look for formal qualifications such as degrees in exercise science, kinesiology or related fields. Accredited professionals often hold certifications from recognized organizations (eg, ACE, ACSM, NSCA). Of course, a string of capitals isn’t the only thing to look for: double-check any acronyms you don’t recognize to make sure they’re legit. And be wary of people giving advice that falls outside the scope of their credentials (ie a personal trainer shouldn’t give nutritional advice, unless they have a separate related degree).
- Evidence-based advice: “Professionals tend to base their advice on scientific research and established exercise principles, rather than trends or personal anecdotes,” says Dr. Yes. Someone’s personal experience may be inspiring or interesting; but if they tell you to take advice, their reasoning should be based on science – not just “It worked for me.”
- Transparency: One of the biggest frustrations after the TikTok confessions was the distinct lack of transparency from fitfluencers. It’s perfectly fine to go on Ozempic or have cosmetic surgery, but lying to your followers breeds mistrust—especially if you instead attribute your physique to a specific diet or exercise regimen. Genuine professionals are transparent about their qualifications and the limitations of their expertise, says Dr. Yes. They are also more likely to refer to other specialists when needed.
- Content quality: “Accredited professionals focus on safe, effective exercise methods and often provide detailed, contextual information, rather than just visually appealing content.” The matching training sets may be cute, but they’re not as important as correct form.
- Totally vibes: There’s a fifth, less tangible quality to consider when deciding whether to follow a fitfluencer, and that’s how the content makes you feel. “I recommend people follow any fitfluencers that motivate, inspire, educate or just make them laugh and enjoy life,” says Jenkins. “It’s important to think critically and set your own parameters around content. You can engage with both accredited and non-accredited fitfluencers and be inspired by them both in different ways.” On the other hand, if you feel guilty, dissatisfied with your body, or that you are not enough when you are rolling in the flow, it is time for a change.
Fitfluencer red flags
In addition to looking for quality health and fitness content online, look out for any of the following warning signs:
- Appearance-based content: To some extent, this is impossible to avoid on social media. “The problem with following any fitfluencer—or engaging in this online culture—is that the message is ultimately how you look is the most important part of your life,” says Sarah Schrank, PhD, history professor and E-RYT 500 yoga instructor. “No matter how much energy is put into ‘feeling good,’ ‘being positive, ‘owning your body,’ etc., the medium of online fitfluencing is inherently visual.” That said, some fitfluencers body checkhighlight appearance-based results or post multiple before-and-after photos—and being told, even implicitly, that your body should look a certain way is never OK.
- Extreme claims: “Credible professionals are unlikely to promise quick, dramatic results or push extreme diets and workouts,” says Dr. Jo. And as you should with most sources of information in your life, Dr. Jo recommends that you critically evaluate the information your favorite fitness influencers share for “conformity with established health and fitness guidelines.”
- One-Size-Fits-All counseling: “Health and fitness is a lifelong journey and it’s about understanding your own body and how it works, and doing the workouts that are best for you,” says Jenkins. Fitfluencers who make sweeping statements about how certain types of exercise or wellness will produce a specific result for everyone (looking at you, “Pilate’s Arms”).
Bottom line
Fitfluencers are, at the end of the rolling spree, only human. They all have their unique perspectives on health, fitness and wellness, and that’s definitely not a bad thing. While some may engage in problematic fitspo content, or be dishonest in their approach, many are truly there to help people become healthier, stronger versions of themselves.
“The fitness influencer space has the power to inspire positive change,” says Dr. Jo. “But it also bears the responsibility to ensure that the information shared is accurate, secure and promotes an evidence-based approach to health and wellbeing.”
The content that fitfluencers shares is a tool that can be helpful or harmful to your fitness journey, depending on how you use it. If opening social media to see a familiar, smiling face encourages you to put your phone down and put on your running shoes, then keep your favorite fitness influencers in your life. But if their content makes you feel guilty, ashamed, or mistrusted, it’s better to go to the gym your way. . . and then tap unfollow.
— Additional reporting by Chandler Plante
Kaley Rohlinger is a freelance writer for PS focusing on health, fitness, food and lifestyle content. She has a background in the marketing and communications industry and has been writing for PS for over four years.
Chandler Plante (she/her) is the assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of experience in professional journalism, and has previously worked as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie and Bustle Digital Group.
