Impact of Fitness Influencers on the Level of Physical Activity Performed by Instagram Users in the United States of America: Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

Héctor José Tricás-Vidal, María Concepción Vidal-Peracho, María Orosia Lucha-López (), César Hidalgo-García (), Sofía Monti-Ballano, Sergio Márquez-Gonzalvo and José Miguel Tricás-Moreno
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Héctor José Tricás-Vidal: Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
María Concepción Vidal-Peracho: Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
María Orosia Lucha-López: Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
César Hidalgo-García: Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Sofía Monti-Ballano: Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Sergio Márquez-Gonzalvo: Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
José Miguel Tricás-Moreno: Unidad de Investigación en Fisioterapia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Domingo Miral, s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-10

Abstract: Background: Physical activity positively influences the general population’s health. Social media networks may promote changes in physical activity habits. This study aimed to analyze the relation between being encouraged to perform physical activity by fitness influencers on Instagram and the level of physical activity performed. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was performed in 890 United States residents with an Instagram account. The sample was made up of 79.2% females and of 75.4% millennials (born between 1981–1996). Physical activity was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Sociodemographic characteristics were registered. Results: The percentage of females ( p = 0.001), millennials ( p < 0.001), students ( p < 0.001), participants with normal BMI ( p = 0.001), and participants performing more than 150 min per week of moderate physical activity ( p = 0.014) was significantly higher in the group that felt encouraged to perform physical activity by the information posted by fitness influencers. This group spent a median of 2 h per week on Instagram checking for nutrition or exercise ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: United States residents who felt encouraged to perform physical activity by fitness influencers on Instagram achieved more the World Health Organization recommendations for substantial health benefit for moderate physical activity. They were predominantly females and millennials with normal weight and spent more time on Instagram checking for nutrition or exercise.

Keywords: physical activity; sedentary behavior; social media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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