Nutrition Misinformation on TikTok and Dietary Behaviours in Young Adults: A Systematic Review Protocol

Authors

  • Subboh Mushtaq Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas
    Lithuania
  • Areesha Babar Riphah International University, Islamabad
    Pakistan

Abstract

Nutrition Misinformation on TikTok and Dietary Behaviours in Young Adults: A Systematic Review Protocol

References

Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.5.469

Cafri, G., Yamamiya, Y., Brannick, M., & Thompson, J. K. (2005). The influence of sociocultural factors on body image: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 12(4), 421–433. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bpi053

Campbell, M., McKenzie, J. E., Sowden, A., Katikireddi, S. V., Brennan, S. E., Ellis, S., Hartmann-Boyce, J., Ryan, R., Shepperd, S., Thomas, J., Welch, V., & Thomson, H. (2020). Synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) in systematic reviews: Reporting guidance. BMJ, 368, Article l6890. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l6890

Denniss, E., Talvia, S., & Collins, R. (2022). Quality and accuracy of nutrition information on social media: A systematic review protocol. PROSPERO CRD42021224277. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021224277

Drivas, M., Reed, O. S., & Berndt-Goke, M. (2024). #WhatIEatInADay: The effects of viewing food diary TikTok videos on young adults’ body image and intent to diet. Body Image, 49, Article 101712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101712

Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7(2), 117–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202

Galmiche, M., Déchelotte, P., Lambert, G., & Tavolacci, M. P. (2019). Prevalence of eating disorders over the 2000–2018 period: A systematic literature review. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 109(5), 1402–1413. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqy342

Gottfried, J. (2024). Americans’ social media use. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/

Griffiths, S., Whitehead, G., Angelopoulos, F., Stone, B., Grey, W., Dennis, S., & Harris, E. A. (2025). Does TikTok contribute to eating disorders? A comparison of the TikTok algorithms belonging to individuals with eating disorders versus healthy controls. Body Image, 52, Article 101834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101834

Li, B., Liu, M., Liu, J., Zhang, Y., Yang, W., & Xie, L. (2024). Quality assessment of health science-related short videos on TikTok: A scoping review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 186, Article 105426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105426

Merga, M. K. (2025). TikTok and digital health literacy: A systematic review. IFLA Journal, 51(2), 490–501. https://doi.org/10.1177/03400352241286175

Minadeo, M., & Pope, L. (2022). Weight-normative messaging predominates on TikTok — A qualitative content analysis. PLoS ONE, 17(11), Article e0267997. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267997

Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., Stewart, L. A., & PRISMA-P Group. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Systematic Reviews, 4(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-4-1

Munro, E., Wells, G., Paciente, R., Wickens, N., Ta, D., Mandzufas, J., Lombardi, K., & Woolard, A. (2024). Diet culture on TikTok: A descriptive content analysis. Public Health Nutrition, 27(1), Article e169. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980024001381

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., . . . Moher, D. (2021a). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, Article n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

Page, M. J., Moher, D., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., . . . McKenzie, J. E. (2021b). PRISMA 2020 explanation and elaboration: Updated guidance and exemplars for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, Article n160. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n160

Raffoul, A., Santoso, M., Lu, J., Duran, V., & Austin, S. B. (2024). Diet pills and deception: A content analysis of weight-loss, muscle-building, and cleanse and detox supplement videos on TikTok. Eating Behaviors, 55, Article 101911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2024.101911

Rethlefsen, M. L., Kirtley, S., Waffenschmidt, S., Ayala, A. P., Moher, D., Page, M. J., Koffel, J. B., & PRISMA-S Group. (2021). PRISMA-S: An extension to the PRISMA statement for reporting literature searches in systematic reviews. Systematic Reviews, 10(1), Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01542-z

Rodgers, R. F., & Melioli, T. (2016). The relationship between body image concerns, eating disorders and internet use, Part I: A review of empirical support. Adolescent Research Review, 1(2), 95–119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-015-0016-6

Sattora, E. A., Ganeles, B. C., Pierce, M. E., & Wong, R. (2024). Research on health topics communicated through TikTok: A systematic review of the literature. Journalism and Media, 5(3), 1395–1412. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5030088

Shamseer, L., Moher, D., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., Stewart, L. A., & the PRISMA-P Group. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: Elaboration and explanation. BMJ, 349, Article g7647. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g7647

Suarez-Lledo, V., & Alvarez-Galvez, J. (2021). Prevalence of health misinformation on social media: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(1), Article e17187. https://doi.org/10.2196/17187

Thompson, J. K., Coovert, M. D., Richards, K. J., Johnson, S., & Cattarin, J. (1995). Development of body image, eating disturbance, and general psychological functioning in female adolescents: Covariance structure modeling and longitudinal investigations. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 18(3), 221–236. https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-108x(199511)18:3%3C221::aid-eat2260180304%3E3.0.co;2-d

Zeng, M., Grgurevic, J., Diyab, R., & Roy, R. (2025). #WhatIEatinaDay: The quality, accuracy, and engagement of nutrition content on TikTok. Nutrients, 17(5), Article 781. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050781

Downloads

Published

2026-11-03

Issue

Section

Health, Rehabilitation and Adapted Physical Activity

How to Cite

Nutrition Misinformation on TikTok and Dietary Behaviours in Young Adults: A Systematic Review Protocol. (2026). Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences. https://doi.org/10.33607/bjshs.v3i144.2373