Taylor Swift’s Disordered Eating Talk Positively Impacts Fans

Now, new research from the University of Vermont suggests that Swift’s influence extends far past the realm of entertainment and into the world of disordered eating. According to the study, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, Swift’s candidness around her own body-image struggles has had a positive influence on fans, helping to reduce the stigma of eating disorders and promote a supportive environment for Swifties.

Some celeb-on-fan context

These findings may sound obvious (isn’t candidness around health always a good thing?), but past research has actually found the opposite to be true when it comes to celebrities and their fans.

In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, researchers found that internet searches for “pro-eating disorder terms” would spike after a high-profile celebrity disclosed their own eating disorder. A 2005 study in the British Journal of Health Psychology also found that younger teenage girls (many of whom are now adult fans of Swift) were more likely to have negative views of their own bodies if they had a parasocial relationship with a celebrity.

But despite these previous findings, researchers—who analyzed roughly 200 posts on Reddit and TikTok—found Swift to be a uniquely “positive role model,” especially as she’s become more outspoken about her own struggles. In recent years, for example, Swift’s 2022 song “You’re On Your Own, Kid” includes references to disordered eating and thinking patterns, while her 2023 music video “Anti-Hero” features Swift stepping on a scale that reads “fat” (an image that sparked criticism of “anti-fat bias” and led Swift’s team to remove it from certain versions of the video).

But Swift’s first—and arguably most notable—disclosure was in her 2020 documentary “Miss Americana,” where she revealed that she had long struggled with disordered eating before seeking help. “You don’t ever say to yourself, ‘Look, I’ve got an eating disorder,’” Swift says in the documentary. “But you know you’re making a list of everything you put in your mouth that day, and you know that’s probably not right.”

Swift’s admission—and its ensuing media coverage—is what prompted researchers to dig in and investigate its potential cultural impact. “Taylor Swift is so popular right now, and I had an idea,” study co-author Lizzy Pope, PhD, RD, associate professor and director of the undergraduate dietetics program at the University of Vermont, tells Well+Good. “Did [Swift’s] disclosures in Miss Americana, and in some of her music, actually help people with their own eating disorders and body image issues—or were they harmful?”

Inside the Swift study

To find out, Pope and her co-author Kelsey Rose, MPH, RD, clinical assistant professor at University of Vermont, dissected and analyzed more than 8,000 comments on 200 social media posts since 2019, all related to Taylor Swift and body image. Pope and Rose looked through comments on TikTok (where they searched “Taylor Swift body image” and read comments on the top 100 videos) and on Reddit (where they searched “body image” and “eating disorder” and read through comments within the r/TaylorSwift fan community).

Pope tells Well+Good that she was most surprised by how often commenters mentioned the positive impact Swift had on them, especially in how they take care of and view their bodies. (Of course, it’s also important to recognize the limitations of this study: The comments were limited to those written in English with no identifiable demographics, so it’s possible that people of varying genders, races, ages, and backgrounds may not be as receptive to Swift’s body-image comments).

While Swift is becoming an increasingly popular topic to discuss in academia, the conversation is mainly focused on Swift’s lyrical prowess or her impact on the economy. That’s why some experts are so intrigued by the findings of this study, including Meghan Gillen, PhD, psychology professor at Penn State Abington who specializes in body image and eating behavior.

Gillen tells Well+Good that this study is one of the first of its kind specifically centered on Swift’s positive impact on body image. “Most studies [are focused] on the negative influence of celebrities on people,” Gillen tells Well+Good, “so I was super excited to see this study.”

What about other celebs?

Understandably, the findings of this study don’t necessarily mean that the results would be similar with anyone else. “The context is different for each celebrity,” Gillen says. “Maybe someone who is a bit more controversial might be less positively received.” Kylie Jenner, in fact, made a push a few years ago to speak out about harmful body-image standards, but was met with considerable pushback from critics who felt that her family had a role in perpetuating—and profiting off of—those very standards.

Swift herself has faced some controversy, though, especially around her Anti-Hero music video and its alleged promotion of “anti-fat bias,” according to some critics—who, it’s worth noting, were also criticized for their criticisms. Gillen and Pope say these differing arguments say a lot about the state of body-image discourse: Feelings about bodies are complex, and those struggling with harmful messaging aren’t always immune to spreading it.

“It was interesting to see how [Swift’s] personal disclosures around her issues helped people with their own journeys, but it didn’t necessarily translate to a bigger understanding of what anti-fat bias is and how it can show up,” Pope says. “Even if you have an eating disorder, you can still have anti-fat bias; in fact, it’s a hallmark part of the diagnosis.”

Where to go from here

These findings overall prove the immense power that pop culture can have in shaping behavior and beliefs, Pope says. That means those in the public eye have a responsibility to be aware of what messaging they’re putting out into the world—and fans have a responsibility to consider who they’re choosing to idolize.

“Choose your parasocial relationships wisely,” Pope recommends. “They can really help you navigate your mental health and cultural challenges, or they can [potentially] contribute to them.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline at 1-866-662-1235 for immediate support, or go to allianceforeatingdisorders.com or anad.org/get-help for more resources.