Redes sociais, transtornos alimentares e tratamento: Implicações, limites e possibilidades

Abstract

In recent years, communication through social media has gained greater relevance in the virtual universe, with increasing numbers of accesses and increasing amounts of hours in which people remain connected to their electronic devices. Considering this contemporary phenomenon, prolonged exposure to social networks has been associated with significant changes in the health habits of internet users, with a negative impact on eating behavior. Concomitantly, the diagnoses of eating disorders (EDs) are becoming more frequent. There is a mismatch in the literature about what the established treatments for these disorders advocate and the reality of the vertiginous influence of new digital technologies, which allows us to postulate the hypothesis that specialized care in this field is not yet prepared to deal with the demands imposed by this new reality. This mismatch results in limitations in multidisciplinary treatments, whose purpose is to combine knowledge that allows dialogue with subjectivity in coping with human suffering. The institutional setting of this investigation is the Assistance Group for Eating Disorders (GRATA) of the Hospital de Clínicas of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School (HC-FMRP-USP). Study 1 aimed to understand the implications of virtual social media in the treatment of people diagnosed with EDs from the perspective of patients. Men and women diagnosed with ED who are under regular treatment at GRATA were invited to participate. Five patients of both sexes and different ages participated, and data collection was carried out through a focus group. Data analysis was developed from the assumptions of Thematic Analysis, originating three thematic categories: social networks as a possibility of socialization; social networks and the possibility of a moldable body; and the group transformations of aesthetic references. The results were analyzed and discussed with the specific literature in the area, with a psychodynamic theoretical framework, the participants reported internal conflicts and negative feelings about the experience in social media that can intensify their ED symptoms, impairing their treatment. Study 2 aimed to understand the implications of virtual social media in the treatment of EDs, from the perspective of professionals working in this area. Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology and Occupational Therapy professionals linked to the service were invited, including contracted professionals or volunteers, with at least one year's experience in the field of EDs. Nine professionals from the different specialties mentioned participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews applied in individual situations were carried out. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and literally, and the textual data produced constituted the corpora of analysis and data analysis was also guided by Thematic Analysis. From these results, three categories were developed: perception of the influence of social networks and uncertainty about how to approach it; lack of tools to work with the theme of social networks; need for integration between positive and negative aspects of social networks in treatment. The results were also analyzed and discussed with the literature in the area, indicating that the influence of social media is mostly negative, but there is a need to include them in the treatment, as it is part of the routine of most people. It is hoped that the reflections arising from these studies can contribute to the gap between theory and practice to be softened and that the therapeutic care offered to people with EDs can remain in tune with the new needs raised by patients in contemporary times.