‘Strong is the new skinny’: navigating fitness hype among teenagers in northern Sweden.
Abstract
An increased interest in health, diet, and physical activity exist among young people, in this study termed ‘fitness hype’. Viewing the body and health as commodities can be understood as part of a healthism discourse. In this study, we explored how Swedish high school students perceive and negotiate the trend regarding exercise, diet and body ideals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten high school students, aged 16–18 years, from various educational programs and with varying levels of physical activity. Using qualitative content analysis, we developd one overarching theme navigating life satisfaction in the face of an ‘unhealthy fitness hype’. Four additional, interrelated categories showed how the young people negotiated this developing trend through: (1) the quest for social recognition and value, (2) social media sets the standards, (3) the paradox of strong and skinny as the new standard, and (4) the need for new safety nets. Our results highlight the young people’s perceptions of an excessive and influential focus on health and exercise in contemporary society. They described a fitness hype as exorbitant and unhealthy ideals of body and exercise, and understood this as problematic. Social media was seen as contributing to this hype as a powerful arena for ‘the quest for social recognition and value’. While not all the young people felt negatively affected by the fitness hype, they perceived its influence on their lives. Further, body and fitness ideals were gendered. Teenage girls faced the paradox of shaping themselves as ‘strong and skinny’. Social ties were recognized as an important safety net, particularly classmates, sports mates, and coaches. Knowledge of these problems from the perspective of young people is crucially needed among health professionals and educators. Further research should explore additional support strategies, and young people’s experiences of fitness hype among additional youth groups.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
One cross-sectional and one qualitative study indicated orthorexia nervosa symptomatology amongst participants, ranging from obsessions with 'clean eating' to avoidance of 'demonised' foods and compulsive exercise behaviours.
“One cross-sectional and one qualitative study indicated orthorexia nervosa symptomatology amongst participants, ranging from obsessions with ‘clean eating’ to avoidance of ‘demonised’ foods and compulsive exercise behaviours [64, 70].”
From The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people (2023) · cites this paper as [64]
Cites
Graneheim, U. H., & Lundman, B. (2004) · Nurse Education Today · doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2003.10.001 · Cited by 20,772 · see citing works
Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste*
Bourdıeu, P. (2018) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315680347-10 · Cited by 20,319 · see citing works
Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste.
Warner, M., Bourdieu, P., & Nice, R. (1985) · MLN · doi:10.2307/2905454 · Cited by 14,107 · see citing works
Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture and the Body.
Nichter, M., & Bordo, S. (1995) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2075082 · Cited by 5,044 · see citing works
Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men's well-being: a theory of gender and health
Courtenay, W. H. (2000) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0277-9536(99)00390-1 · Cited by 4,091 · see citing works
The birth of the clinic : an archaeology of medical perception
Foucault, M., & Sheridan, A. (1974) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203406373 · Cited by 2,679 · see citing works
Shilling, C. (2003) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781446215470 · Cited by 2,400 · see citing works
Grabe, S., Ward, L. M., & Hyde, J. S. (2008) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.460 · Cited by 2,053 · see citing works
Healthism and the Medicalization of Everyday Life
Crawford, R. (1980) · International Journal of Health Services · doi:10.2190/3h2h-3xjn-3kay-g9ny · Cited by 1,946 · see citing works
Foucault, M. (2012) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203715109 · Cited by 1,795 · see citing works
Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.12.002 · Cited by 1,009 · see citing works
Health as a meaningful social practice
Crawford, R. A. (2006) · Health An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health Illness and Medicine · doi:10.1177/1363459306067310 · Cited by 816 · see citing works
Featherstone, M. (1982) · Theory Culture & Society · doi:10.1177/026327648200100203 · Cited by 808 · see citing works
Wang, Y., & Lim, H. (2012) · International Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/09540261.2012.688195 · Cited by 753 · see citing works
“Exercise to be fit, not skinny,”: the effect of fitspiration imagery on women's body image
Tiggemann, M., & Zaccardo, M. (2015) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.06.003 · Cited by 737 · see citing works
The Lived Body: Sociological Themes, Embodied Issues
Barrett, D. O., Williams, S. J., & Bendelow, G. (1999) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2655063 · Cited by 485 · see citing works
Living the Paradox: Female Athletes Negotiate Femininity and Muscularity
Krane, V., Choi, P. Y. L., Baird, S. M., Aimar, C. M., & Kauer, K. J. (2004) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1023/b:sers.0000018888.48437.4f · Cited by 469 · see citing works
Firm but Shapely, Fit but Sexy, Strong but Thin: The Postmodern Aerobicizing Female Bodies
Markula, P. (1995) · Sociology of Sport Journal · doi:10.1123/ssj.12.4.424 · Cited by 443 · see citing works
Donini, L. M., Marsili, D., Graziani, M. P., Imbriale, M., & CANNELLA, C. (2004) · Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity · doi:10.1007/bf03325060 · Cited by 432 · see citing works
Biopolitics and the 'Obesity Epidemic'-governing bodies
McMahon, J. (2011) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2011.595168 · Cited by 404 · see citing works
Featherstone, M. (1991) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781446280546.n6 · Cited by 392 · see citing works
Body Image: Focus Groups with Boys and Men
GROGAN, S., & RICHARDS, H. (2002) · Men and Masculinities · doi:10.1177/1097184x02004003001 · Cited by 373 · see citing works
Prevalence of orthorexia among medical students in Erzurum, Turkey
Fidan, T., Ertekin, V., Işıkay, S., & Kırpınar, İ. (2009) · Comprehensive Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2009.03.001 · Cited by 313 · see citing works
The Effect of Exercise on Body Satisfaction and Self-Esteem as a Function of Gender and Age
Tiggemann, M., & Williamson, S. (2000) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1023/a:1007095830095 · Cited by 281 · see citing works
McCabe, M. P., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2004) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2004.05.004 · Cited by 280 · see citing works
Youth and Generation: Rethinking Change and Inequality in the Lives of Young People
Woodman, D., & Wyn, J. (2015) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781473910591 · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Evidence and gaps in the literature on orthorexia nervosa
Varga, M., Dukay‐Szabó, S., Túry, F., & van Furth, E. F. (2013) · Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia Bulimia and Obesity · doi:10.1007/s40519-013-0026-y · Cited by 232 · see citing works
Kaw, E. (1993) · Medical Anthropology Quarterly · doi:10.1525/maq.1993.7.1.02a00050 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Saguy, A. C., & Ward, A. (2011) · Social Psychology Quarterly · doi:10.1177/0190272511398190 · Cited by 201 · see citing works
Healthism and Physical Education
Kirk, D. L., & Colquhoun, D. (1989) · British Journal of Sociology of Education · doi:10.1080/0142569890100403 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Hargreaves, D. A., & Tiggemann, M. (2003) · Journal of Youth and Adolescence · doi:10.1023/a:1024974015581 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Gorely, T., Holroyd, R., & Kirk, D. (2003) · British Journal of Sociology of Education · doi:10.1080/01425690301923 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Being Fit and Looking Healthy: Young Women’s and Men’s Constructions of Health and Fitness
Wright, J., O’Flynn, G., & Macdonald, D. (2006) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9036-9 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Vandereycken, W. (2011) · Eating Disorders · doi:10.1080/10640266.2011.551634 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Orthorexia nervosa: An integrative literature review of a lifestyle syndrome
Håman, L., Barker‐Ruchti, N., Patriksson, G., & Lindgren, E. (2015) · International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being · doi:10.3402/qhw.v10.26799 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Future Girls, transcendent femininities and new pedagogies: toward girls' hybrid bodies?
Azzarito, L. (2010) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2010.493307 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Malmborg, J. S., Bremander, A., Olsson, M. C., & Bergman, S. (2016) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.11.028 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Governing the Healthy Body: Discourses of Leisure and Lifestyle within Australian Health Policy
Fullagar, S. P. (2002) · Health An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health Illness and Medicine · doi:10.1177/136345930200600104 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Measuring health‐related quality of life in adolescence
Frisén, A. (2007) · Acta Paediatrica · doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00333.x · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Reading magazine articles about dieting and associated weight control behaviors among adolescents
Utter, J., Neumark‐Sztainer, D., Wall, M. M., et al. (2002) · Journal of Adolescent Health · doi:10.1016/s1054-139x(02)00455-x · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Biopower, Biopedagogies and the Obesity Epidemic
Wright, J. (2012) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203882061-5 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Doing Bodies Differently? Gender, Youth, Appearance and Damage
Frost, L. (2003) · Journal of Youth Studies · doi:10.1080/1367626032000068163 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Russell, K. M. (2004) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-004-5466-4 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Teens’ social media use and collective action
Seo, H., Houston, J. B., Knight, L. A. T., Kennedy, E. J., & Inglish, A. B. (2013) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/1461444813495162 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Walseth, K., Aartun, I., & Engelsrud, G. (2017) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2015.1050370 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Young women facing multiple and intersecting stressors of modernity, gender orders and youth
Wiklund, M., Bengs, C., Malmgren‐Olsson, E., & Öhman, A. (2010) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.08.004 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Self-citationMcDermott, L. M. (2007) · Sociology of Sport Journal · doi:10.1123/ssj.24.3.302 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Lupton, D. (1999) · Critical Public Health · doi:10.1080/09581599908402941 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Pontes, J. B., & Montagner, M. Â. (2011) · Tempus Actas de Saúde Coletiva · doi:10.18569/tempus.v5i2.983 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
‘‘Healthism’’ and looking good: Body ideals and body practices in Norway
Rysst, M. (2010) · Scandinavian Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1177/1403494810376561 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Tiggemann, M. (2014) · Media Psychology · doi:10.1080/15213269.2014.891822 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Body satisfaction among adolescents in eight different countries
McCabe, M. P., Fuller‐Tyszkiewicz, M., Mellor, D. J., et al. (2011) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105311425274 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Johnson, S., Gray, S., & Horrell, A. (2012) · Discourse Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education · doi:10.1080/01596306.2012.717196 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Boys' bodies and the constitution of adolescent masculinities
Hauge, M.-I., & Haavind, H. (2011) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2011.531958 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Österlind, M., & Wright, J. (2012) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2012.726217 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Children, adolescents, and the media: The molding of minds, bodies, and deeds
Ward, L. M. (2005) · New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development · doi:10.1002/cd.138 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Materialising bodies: there is nothing more material than a socially constructed body
Larsson, H. (2012) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2012.722550 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Shea, J., & Beausoleil, N. (2012) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2011.607914 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Exploring adolescent views of body image: the influence of media
Spurr, S., Berry, L., & Walker, K. D. (2013) · Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing · doi:10.3109/01460862.2013.776145 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Body Studies in the Sociology of Sport: A Review of the Field
Cole, C. L. (2000) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781848608382.n28 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Healthy appearances – distorted body images? Young adults negotiating body motives
Liimakka, S. (2013) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105312468189 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Complex symptomatology among young women who present with stress‐related problems
Strömbäck, M., Wiklund, M., Renberg, E. S., & Malmgren‐Olsson, E. (2014) · Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences · doi:10.1111/scs.12154 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self-citationYoung Chinese Australians' subjectivities of ‘health’ and ‘(un)healthy bodies’
Pang, B., Alfrey, L., & Varea, V. (2015) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2014.993959 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Governing the healthy body: discourses of leisure and lifestyle within Australian health policy
Fullagar, S. P. (2002) · Health An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health Illness and Medicine · doi:10.1177/1363459302006001445 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
‘You can tell kind of about the body’: young children, health, fitness and fatness
Pugmire, R., & Lyons, A. C. (2016) · Sport Education and Society · doi:10.1080/13573322.2016.1265927 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Bendelow, G., & Williams, S. J. (2002) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203025680 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Sociology of diagnosis: Negotiation, mediation and contingency
Jutel, A., & Nettleton, S. (2010) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.01.001 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Maskulinitet och mode som genusvetenskaplig och etnografisk utmaning
Nordberg, M., & Mörck, M. (2007) · Tidskrift för genusvetenskap · doi:10.55870/tgv.v28i1-2.3919 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Searching for a Silver Lining: Mediated Intergroup Contact and Mental Health Perceptions
Lookadoo, K. L., & Wong, N. C. H. (2020) · Studies in Media and Communication · doi:10.11114/smc.v8i2.4834 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Hemstad, H., & Öhman, M. (2010) · Idrottsforum.org · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Extrem jakt på hälsa. En explorativ studie om ortorexia nervosa.
Håman, L. (2016) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Dane, A., & Bhatia, K. (2023) · PLOS Global Public Health · doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0001091 · Cited by 289 · see citing works
- Authors
- Wiklund, E., Jonsson, E., Coe, A.-B., & Wiklund, M.
- Affiliations
- Umeå University (SE)
- Physiotherapy unit, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Corresponding author
- Wiklund, Maria
- Venue
- Sport Education and Society
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-11-15
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 441-454
- ISSN
- 1357-3322 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-1243
- OpenAlex
- W2769141500
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 71
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 1.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sport Education and Society (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Swedish Research Council (344-2011-5478)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- body ideals, adolescent girls, social media, social recognition, physical activity, diet, high school students, social support, life satisfaction, northern Sweden
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
