AI and social media are reshaping Diet culture in real-time.
In Part 2, we expose how algorithms shape body image, eating, and self-worth—especially for teens.
In this follow-up conversation, Dr. Supatra Tovar (licensed clinical psychologist, registered dietitian, fitness expert) welcomes back Dr. Tatyana El-Kour (Senior Psychology Research Fellow, RDN) to decode how AI-driven feeds, “What I Eat in a Day” videos, and face/body filters can normalize disordered patterns, amplify Anxiety and shame, and turn food from nourishment into a scoreboard of validation. We unpack why likes, shares, and streaks become proxy measures of worth—and how predictive algorithms intensify obsession instead of balance.
We go deep on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro)—how social media markets them as quick fixes, the psychological dependence loop, and real-world risks: malnutrition, gastroparesis, thyroid caution flags, and “more must be better” escalation. Dr. Tovar explains why returning to interoception—hunger/fullness cues, slow eating, and parasympathetic digestion—restores hormonal balance and body trust. Dr. El-Kour offers practical safeguards: reduce obsessive tracking, model joyful eating, widen content diversity, and build tools that highlight Sleep, energy, variety, and culture, not perfection.
We also confront VR filters and AI-edited avatars that split online appearance from real identity, fueling body non-acceptance and isolation. Finally, a call to action for clinicians, researchers, educators, and policymakers: co-design ethical, user-centered products, introduce algorithmic “brakes,” and elevate science in feeds so nuance beats sensationalism.
Chapters
00:00 — Hook: AI, social media & the new diet culture
01:15 — Food as identity: comparison, likes, and self-worth
03:05 — Reward circuits: why extreme content keeps escalating
06:00 — GLP-1 reality check: risks, misuse, and psychology
09:10 — High-protein/low-carb hype vs. long-term outcomes
11:00 — Obsessive tracking → anxiety, guilt, disordered symptoms
13:20 — Body trust: hunger/fullness cues, mindful pace, hormones
15:05 — Apps, streaks, and the perfection trap
17:00 — Where’s the science? Algorithmic diversity, not extremes
19:05 — “What I Eat in a Day”: when role models harm or help
21:10 — Culture matters: context, access, and equity
22:15 — Dr. El-Kour’s day of eating (traditional Arabic pattern)
24:00 — Circadian rhythm: bigger breakfast/lunch, easier digestion
25:10 — Filters/VR: body non-acceptance and social withdrawal
28:00 — Action items for clinicians, researchers, policymakers
30:00 — How to work with Dr. El-Kour (talks, workshops, consulting)
Who this episode is for
• Parents, teens, and young adults navigating digital food culture
• Anyone concerned about GLP-1s, disordered eating, or filter-driven dysmorphia
• Clinicians, educators, and leaders seeking evidence-aligned strategies
Key takeaways
• Algorithms reward emotional highs—not balanced Health content
• GLP-1s are not one-shot solutions; risk/benefit varies by person
• Mindful, culturally relevant eating restores body trust and reduces obsession
• Tech can help—when it nudges sleep, variety, and connection over perfection
• We need algorithmic diversity and user-centered design to protect Mental Health
Work with the guests & continue your journey
• Dr. Tatyana El-Kour (talks, workshops, consulting): tatyanaelkour.com
• Read Deprogram Diet Culture → https://www.anew-insight.com/book
• Take the Deprogram Diet Culture course → https://www.anew-insight.com/course
• Listen on Buzzsprout → https://www.buzzsprout.com/
• Watch more episodes → https://youtube.com/@my.anew.insight
• Subscribe for weekly conversations at the intersection of psychology, nutrition, fitness, and tech
If this helped you, like, subscribe, and share with someone who’s stuck in the algorithm. Comment with your experience of “What I Eat in a Day” content or GLP-1 messaging—we’ll feature thoughtful replies in a future episode.
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