AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH EDUCATION

2020, VOL. 51, NO. 5, 328–337

https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2020.1795754

A Content Analysis of Pinterest Belly Fat Loss Exercises: Unrealistic Expectations

and Misinformation
Ashley Dedricka, Julie Williams Mertena, Tammy Adamsa, Meghann Wheelera, Terrell Kassiea, and Jessica L. Kingb
a
University of North Florida; bUniversity of Utah

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

Background: Pinterest has changed the way we seek and share health information with more than Received 6 May 2020
300 million active users. Nearly 40% of Americans are obese and seek fast, easy weight loss solutions Accepted 18 June 2020
online despite evidence that diet and physical activity are the only effective ways to manage
weight. Purpose: This study used content analysis to examine how exercises to reduce belly fat
were portrayed on Pinterest, a social media website used to bookmark online content. Methods:
Using search terms belly fat exercises and belly fat workouts, researchers sampled Pinterest pins to
collect 234 relevant pins. A codebook was developed, tested, and used to code pins. Results: Of the
234 pins, the majority of pins highlighted being thinner (73.1%) rather than overall health (9.4%).
Pins were primarily geared toward women (70%) with nearly half of the pins depicting women in
sports bras (52.9%) with swimsuit model figures (48.7%); and 18% of the pins showed signs of photo
edits. Discussion: Social media is a powerful source of health information. However, there is
evidence of misleading weight loss, specifically belly fat loss strategies being promoted.
Translation to Health Education Practice: Health educators need to develop social media
campaigns to promote positive body image with realistic weight loss strategies.

Background
In the past four decades, the obesity epidemic has become
one of the top health concerns of the United States (U.S.)
and the world. The World Health Organization (WHO)
reported that obesity has tripled worldwide since 1975
and in 2016 roughly 13% of the globe’s adult population
were obese.1 The U.S. population has roughly three times
the rate of obesity relative to other parts of the world,
which has an estimated economic burden of 147
USD billion in medical costs.2 While the public health
concerns and economic impact of general obesity are well
established,3 the effects of abdominal obesity are often
overlooked. Abdominal obesity is defined as an overa­
bundance of intra-abdominal fat and is often termed
visceral obesity or central adiposity.4 Over the last several
decades, the prevalence of abdominal obesity found in
U.S. adults has steadily increased, with reports of 59% of
U.S. adults having excessive abdominal fat in 2016 as
measured by waist circumference.5 Interestingly, during
the same time period, obesity has stayed at relatively the
same prevalence rate.6
Visceral fat tissue (VAT) is found surrounding inter­
nal organs, the mesentery, and is stored in the omentum,
blanketing the intestines and lying under the stomach
muscles.4,7 The predominant form of fat found in VAT
is white adipose tissue (WAT). In healthy amounts, VAT
acts to maintain a healthy homeostasis and is responsi­
ble for the release and storage of energy in the body.
However, when an excess amount of lipids are stored
and the removal of lipids is decreased, the process
becomes unbalanced and results in excess WAT.8
Excess VAT influences metabolism and increases fat
deposition on the liver. These changes result in altered
lipid profiles, changes in blood pressure, and increases in
systemic inflammation, which ultimately increases the
risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease,
insulin resistance, and even types of cancers.7 In addi­
tion to these health dangers, abdominal obesity in
women also increases their risk of metabolic distur­
bances, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, depres­
sion, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.4 Visceral fat
tissue has also been linked to dyslipidemia, hyperten­
sion, and glucose intolerance.9 Alternatively, reduction
in waist circumference has shown lower levels of cho­
lesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides.10
A key contributor to obesity management is physical
activity. Past studies have shown that an inverse rela­
tionship exists between physical activity and obesity
and that abdominal obesity is reduced with higher
levels of physical activity. Similarly, weight loss

CONTACT Julie Williams Merten JMerten@unf.edu Department of Public Health, Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
32224
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