What is 'SkinnyTok'? The weight loss trend preaches tough love but comes with risks

Warning: This article discusses eating disorders.

Warning: This article discusses eating disorders. If you or a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, the National Eating Disorders Association offers a free and confidential screening tool, support, resources and treatment options.

As an anti-diet culture influencer in recovery from an eating disorder, she says, Phaith Montoya prefers not to engage with body-shaming social media posts. She tells TODAY.com she’d retired from battling people in the comments on TikTok — until last month, when so many of her 3 million followers started asking her about #SkinnyTok that she decided to take a look.

The content posted with the hashtag reminded her of the 2010s-era “pro-anorexia Tumblr” and “eating disorder Twitter,” so she decided to speak out in a TikTok that’s since gotten over a million views.

Montoya, 27, was about 9 years old when she was first put on a diet. She ate less than her brother but weighed more, and her doctor was concerned. Without any referrals to counselors or dietitians, she says her parents did the best they could.

Montoya cycled through restrictive fad diets and their emotional fallout for years, and eventually was diagnosed with hypothyroid disease, which can lead to weight gain, among other symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic. In college, she started seeing mental health and nutrition professionals who gave her science-backed tools and support. She also learned she’d been struggling with binge-eating disorder.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/skinnytok-weight-loss-trend-tiktok-rcna200484

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