An alarming trend on TikTok is encouraging men and teenagers to eat as little as possible in pursuit of a chiseled jawline.
Some parts of the ‘Looksmaxxing’ trend They are harmless tips for starting skin care routines, going to the gym or improving general hygiene.
However, experts are concerned about some videos showing men and boys boasting about fasting and cutting calories.
Called #starvemaxxing, this subgenre of the trend has racked up 8 million views on TikTok. Billions more have viewed Looksmaxxing content overall.
Eating disorder charity Beat fears the trend could be “incredibly harmful”, especially if someone is already struggling with or at risk of an eating disorder such as anorexia.
@xavier1x1, (pictured left), who has over 4,500 followers, poses to show off his angular jawline with the caption “you haven’t eaten in 3 days” and the hashtag #starvemaxxing. A video posted by @guapo._02, (pictured right), who has over 9,900 followers, also shows him clenching his jaw to show off his facial structure with the caption “me after starvemaxxing.”
There are several levels to Lookmaxxing, which is prevalent on various social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, and online forums like Reddit.
Some videos on social media show everything from ‘softmaxxing’, which ranges from brushing teeth and removing body hair, to ‘meowing’, which consists of tongue exercises that supposedly help tone facial muscles.
More dangerous trends like starvemaxxing encourage young men to take radical measures to improve their appearance, such as plastic surgery and extreme diets.
Proponents believe that the way to get a chiseled jawline, regardless of genetics, is to have low body fat.
Health professionals are concerned that videos promoting this trend encourage dangerous eating habits.
A TikTok video with the hashtag posted by @xavier1x1, who has more than 4,500 followers, shows him posing to show off his angular jawline with the caption “you haven’t eaten in 3 days.”
A video posted by @guapo._02, who has over 9,900 followers, also shows him clenching his jaw to show off his facial structure with the caption ‘me after starvemaxxing’.
A video posted by @4vaine, who has 670 followers, shows him tilting the camera toward his sharp jawline with the caption “anorexic?” just eat brother
While another video posted by @ilovesapiyen, who has over 1,100 followers, shows him flexing his muscles with the caption “me after starving for 3 days.”
Accounts that promote this practice are not even remorseful when told that such content could trigger eating disorders.
A video posted by @4vaine, who has 670 followers, shows him responding to a comment that said he was posting potentially anorexic-triggering content by tilting the camera toward his sharp jawline with the caption “anorexic?” just eat brother.
TikTok has since removed the videos after being alerted by MailOnline.
Tom Quinn, external affairs director at eating disorder charity Beat, said the videos could make a person’s eating disorder worse.
“While watching ‘starvemaxxing’ videos online would not cause an eating disorder, trends that focus on body image and extreme dieting can be incredibly harmful,” she said.
“For example, if someone is already unwell with an eating disorder, these tendencies could worsen dangerous thoughts and behaviors, or contribute to the development of an eating disorder if someone is already vulnerable.”
Although many people think that eating disorders such as anorexia only affect girls and women, mental health charity Young Minds stresses that this is not true.
Around 25 per cent of people who experience eating disorders such as anorexia are men, the charity says.
A TikTok video posted by @ilovesapiyen, who has more than 1,100 followers, shows him flexing his muscles with the caption “me after starving for 3 days.”
Thinking a lot about calories and the foods you eat, as well as exercising too much and developing an obsession with body image, are feelings and behaviors associated with anorexia, Young Minds warns.
Prolonged anorexia can lead to serious health problems, warns the NHS.
Not getting enough of the right nutrients in your diet can lead to kidney and intestinal problems, a weakened immune system, and muscle and bone problems.
“There is a misconception that eating disorders only affect women and girls, but one in four people with eating disorders are men, and since the pandemic we have heard from more people than ever of all genders, ages and backgrounds” said Mr. Quinn. aggregate.
‘We encourage people to take a step back from social media, report any content they consider harmful, or use the “I’m not interested” feature if they are experiencing difficulties.
“We also urge anyone concerned about their health to contact their GP, someone they trust and a source of support like Beat.”
TikTok has partnered with Beat to help them improve their policies on potentially harmful videos.
In 2023, of the videos removed because they violated TikTok’s policies on eating disorders, more than 90 percent were proactively removed, the social media giant says.
A TikTok spokesperson said: “Content that promotes dangerous weight loss behaviors is not allowed on TikTok.”
“We proactively direct searches for this content to wellness resources we developed with experts.”
If you are concerned about your own health or that of someone else, you can contact the UK eating disorder charity Beat, 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677 or at beateatingdisorders.org.uk.