Two viral trends on TikTok - #WaterTok and ‘What I Eat in a Day - have been called out by an eating disorder specialist as "really dangerous".
The hashtag #WaterTok is used on videos in which social media users dress up water with flavoured 'skinny' syrups like 'Orange Creamsicle' and 'Grape Gatorade'. Another trend is the 'What I Eat in a Day' videos wherein people document their day-to-day meals that often includes a calorie count.
To Martha Williams, 28, a specialist for eating disorder charity Beat, these trends only serve to "make thoughts about disordered eating worse".
The senior clinical advice co-ordinator from London, explains the trends trigger the "competitive" aspect of eating disorders.
She says: "As the trends have developed, people are using them to instruct their followers to engage in the same behaviours - it’s really dangerous.
"Eating Disorders are incredibly competitive illnesses. If people who have a history of disordered eating want to look the same way as the person they’re watching on a screen, they’re going to copy them.
"It's about who looks thinner - who looks the most ill. TikTok makes meal restriction look so easy - people can fall into the trap of thinking, ‘if it can work for them, it can work for me.'
"But everyone is different - people need different levels of sustenance to keep their bodies going. And you can’t replace meals with water.
"There needs to be some kind of awareness raised that this is not a healthy thing to do. It isn’t recommended by medical professionals, and it isn’t a weight loss solution."
With regard to #WaterTok, Martha believes it could be entrenched in a darker trend known as water loading. The tactic is used to hide weight loss by drinking an excessive amount of water in order to appear 'heavier' on a scale.
She said: "I wouldn’t be surprised if the trend continues to develop down the path of water loading - where people drink obsessive amounts of water in order to manipulate their weight."
According to Martha, those affected should be reaching out to people they trust if they find they’re experiencing thoughts of restrictive eating - particularly off the back of #WaterTok and 'What I Eat in a Day'.
"If someone is drawn to meal replacement videos - get in touch with Beat’s helpline," she said.
"We’re open 365 days a year, from 9am to 12am. You can talk to us about the way you’re feeling. Alternatively, speak to trusted friends or family members. Don’t suffer in silence."
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