Suffolk academic warns global pressures are pushing people towards eating disorders
They say eating disorders are evolving with social media, weight loss jabs and A.I
Last updated 25th Feb 2026
A University of Suffolk academic has warned that global unrest, economic pressure and political messaging are increasingly shaping beauty standards, with extreme thinness re-emerging as an ideal during times of instability.
Laura Polley, a lecturer in criminology and sociology at the University of Suffolk, said body ideals have historically reflected wider social conditions, and that current trends mirror patterns seen during periods of scarcity and control.
“Beauty trends and beauty ideals tend to reflect the culture at the time,” she said. “When things change politically or economically, the media reflects that; it’s much more complex than something simply being ‘popular’.”
Body ideals mirror periods of scarcity
Polley explained that history shows clear links between hardship and thinner body ideals.
“During wartime, when resources were scarce, and food was rationed, skinnier, more androgynous bodies became the ideal,” she said. “Then when prosperity returned in the 1950s and 60s, curvier bodies became more desirable.”
She believes similar forces are at play today, as households face rising food costs, economic uncertainty and pressure to be productive.
“We’re in a cost-of-living crisis, so again we’re seeing resource scarcity,” she said. “And when society becomes more focused on control and productivity, skinnier beauty ideals tend to follow.”
From celebrities to peers and algorithms
Polley said social media has intensified these pressures by changing who people compare themselves to.
“Historically, people compared themselves to royalty or Hollywood stars,” she said. “Now, with platforms like TikTok, we’re comparing ourselves to each other.”
She said personalised algorithms mean users are repeatedly shown similar content once they engage with it, even passively.
“You don’t have to like or comment,” she said. “Just watching a video is enough for the algorithm to push more of that content.”
This, she warned, can be particularly harmful for young people who encounter content promoting extreme thinness, body checking or restrictive behaviour.
‘Health’ and thinness becoming blurred
Polley said one of her main concerns is the increasing tendency to link body size directly to health.
“We’re very quick to connect body type with health,” she said. “But things like the BMI scale are not accurate for all body types.”
She pointed to political and public health messaging, including sugar taxes and obesity campaigns, as contributing to what she described as the “politicisation of body types”.
She also highlighted the growing visibility of weight loss injections, including drugs such as Mounjaro and Ozempic, which she said risk reinforcing the idea that thinness equals health.
“What we’re doing is making extreme thinness the ideal,” she said. “And then Hollywood and celebrity culture amplify that.”
Public discussion around the appearance of Hollywood figures has, she said, further embedded those ideals.
A return to ‘heroin chic’
Polley said she believes society may be moving back towards the extreme thinness associated with the 1990s.
“My prediction is that we’re heading back towards heroin chic,” she said, referencing the supermodel era popularised by figures such as Kate Moss.
She argued that thinness may once again become a marker of wealth.
“Historically, bigger bodies were a sign of wealth because they indicated access to food,” she said. “I think that pendulum may now be swinging the other way.”
She noted that healthy food options are often more expensive than processed alternatives.
“If you want to eat organic, whole foods, that requires a certain income,” she said. “An avocado can cost the same as a portion of fries.”
Gender roles and pressure to conform
Polley said these pressures are not limited to women, but are increasingly affecting men as well.
“We’re seeing a cultural throwback in gender roles,” she said, pointing to online trends promoting traditional masculinity and femininity.
She cited the impact of certain influencers, alongside “trad wife” content, as examples of how rigid expectations are being reinforced.
“When people don’t fit those ideals, they’re made to feel not good enough,” she said. “And when people feel that way, they look for something to control.”
What can help protect young people
Polley said social media companies have a responsibility to limit harm, particularly for under-16s, and pointed to Australia’s decision to restrict youth access as “radical but necessary”.
However, she said education was just as important.
“It’s about teaching critical thinking,” she said. “Helping young people ask: is this real? Is this just a snapshot?”
She also encouraged people to separate health from appearance.
“To be healthy, you need a balanced diet, movement, and mental wellbeing,” she said. “Body type is something else entirely.”
“Your body isn’t something to fix,” she added. “It’s somewhere you live, and it’s not broken.”
Social media response
We reached out to OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta, asking for a right of reply about how their platforms handle content linked to body image and eating disorders; none of them responded by the time this was finalised, except TikTok.
According to a TikTok spokesperson:
“We do not allow showing or promoting disordered eating and dangerous weight loss behaviours…and we work with health experts and charities to develop their safety and wellbeing guides.”
The Government says its Online Safety Act works to protect children from harmful online content - it's also considering other measures like banning under-16s from social media.
You can hear our full investigation into eating disorders and social media here.