When #fitspo became a trend, it was intended to be a motivator to stick to a workout routine or eat a healthy diet. The images associated with the hashtag were also deemed body positive since they showed women (and men) who were not just thin, but also muscular.

“My own hypothesis is the media, including social media, is creating increased pressure for women to not only be thin but to be fit as well,” Psychology Professor Dr. Brooke Whisenhunt said to ABC News. “The reality is that our thin ideal has gotten thinner. We have an underweight ideal that is now muscular.”

The research referenced in the article was part of Alumna Frances Bozsik’s thesis research that she conducted with Whisenhunt.

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