Effect of Influencer-Led Body Positivity Social Media Content on Eating Disorder Risk among Undergraduates of Osun State University and Redeemer's University

Despite the increasing prominence of the body-positivity movement on social media, limited Nigerian research has examined the influence of influencer-led body-positivity content on young adults’ body-image perception and eating behaviours. This study addressed this gap by assessing the perceived impact of influencer-led body-positivity content on body-image perception among undergraduates and determining its association with self-reported disordered eating behaviours. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. The population comprised undergraduates of Osun State University and Redeemer’s University. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 391 respondents, representing various faculties, with a 98.9% response rate. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed with descriptive statistics. Findings indicated exposure to influencer-led body-positivity content, with 47.8% viewing it three to five times weekly and 27.6% daily. While 30.9% perceived such content as genuine and empowering, 45.2% described it as motivational but unrealistic. Behaviourally, 40.1% reported dieting or restricting intake, 27.6% skipped meals, 20.4% felt guilty after eating, and 7.9% engaged in binge eating. Influencer body type (57.0%) was the most cited factor shaping content interpretation and weight-loss success stories (30.4%) were the most influential in altering eating habits. The study concluded that influencer-led body-positivity content exerts a dual influence, fostering empowerment for some students while reinforcing narrow beauty ideals and prompting behaviours linked to disordered eating in others. It recommended that universities implement media-literacy programmes to enhance critical consumption of influencer content, promote genuine body diversity in social media campaigns and integrate routine screening for disordered eating into student health services. Keywords: Body Positivity, Social Media, Eating Disorder Risk, Influencer, Social Media