A recent study from the University of Vermont (UVM) highlights the significant positive impact that Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating has had on her fans. Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, the research analyzed over 8,300 comments from the top 200 TikTok and Reddit posts discussing Swift, eating disorders, and body image.
According to Associate Professor Lizzy Pope from UVM’s Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, the findings indicate that fans who feel a strong connection to Swift reported making positive changes in their attitudes and behaviors regarding eating and body image due to her candid disclosures and messages in her music. Kelsey Rose, a UVM Clinical Assistant Professor specializing in eating disorder treatment, noted that fans drew inspiration from Swift’s recovery journey, perceiving her as a role model for overcoming disordered eating.
The study identified key positive themes among the comments, with many fans expressing that Swift’s story encouraged them in their own recovery processes. Several of Swift’s songs address themes of disordered eating and body image pressures, and she has openly discussed these issues in her 2020 documentary, Miss Americana.
The researchers emphasize that Swift’s honesty challenges societal norms that promote diet culture, often exacerbated by celebrity influence. This transparency has contributed to reducing stigma surrounding eating disorders, which is crucial as stigma can hinder individuals from seeking help and negatively affect health outcomes.
However, despite the overall positive effects, the study found that fans often continued to objectify Swift’s body. This was particularly evident in discussions surrounding her artistic choices, such as displaying the word “fat” on a scale in her video for “Anti-Hero.” Pope noted that even supportive comments sometimes perpetuated harmful narratives around body image, highlighting the complexity of the discourse surrounding celebrity and body objectification.
Pope and Rose were motivated to examine Swift’s influence given her significant fanbase, particularly among students vulnerable to diet culture. Their research demonstrates that while Swift’s disclosures empower fans and foster healthier attitudes towards food and body image, they also underscore the limitations of individual narratives in addressing systemic issues like anti-fat bias.
The researchers are hopeful that Swift and other influential figures can leverage their platforms to advocate for health and wellness, promoting more inclusive body practices. “Taylor Swift can do more to change attitudes with a few sentences than we can do in our entire careers,” Pope remarked, underscoring the potential for celebrity voices to drive societal change toward body liberation.
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