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The 'fitfluencer' community is growing. What are the dangers?

WBUR

Published June 26, 2026 at 10:59 AM CDT

A dance teacher hosts an Instagram Live High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) class online. (George Wood/Getty Images)

On social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, fitness content is all the rage. Sometimes the content posted by health influencers with seemingly unattainable bodies can be harmful, false and now even artificial intelligence.

Guatemalan Former Olympic Swimmer Valerie Gruest has been studying this at Northwestern University. She joins host Indira Lakshmanan.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.