ANTM Documentary: How TV and Social Media Affect Our Body Image

On February 16, Netflix released the documentary Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, which explores one of the world's biggest reality shows. From words like 'fat' to 'cow' being used to describe participants, the documentary questions whether Tyra Banks went too far.

During the documentary, viewers saw how the modeling industry and its thin body standards had hurt participants. However, its impact on viewers’ self-image was overlooked.

Even after the show ended, not much has changed. Now, social media influences how we see our bodies. With promoted strict diets and Ozempic, many people struggle with body image after seeing perfect-looking photos online.

In this article, we take a closer look at how we went from America’s Next Top Model to social media influencers, and how it affects our self-esteem.

What the ATNM documentary revealed

Narrow waists, tall and thin figures, and flat abs defined the early 2000s runway. America’s Next Top Model was initially intended to challenge these stereotypes and show that beauty is way more than being thin. However, the documentary reveals that the program often perpetuated and even intensified harmful industry standards.

For example, Kenyah, a contestant in cycle 4, was labeled ‘fat’ despite having a visibly flat stomach and portrayed as overeating, although this portrayal was exaggerated. Instead of showing her eating the same bagel for breakfast, the showrunners made viewers think she was eating three bagels. Similarly, Whitney, who was 5’10 and weighed 115 lbs in cycle 10, was classified as a plus-size model and not provided with appropriately sized clothing during shoots or runway shows.

The documentary also highlights instances of contestants fainting, being dehydrated, lacking food, and being subjected to unrealistic measurements. Rather than critically reflecting on these practices, the show often dismissed them as products of the era.

Tyra Banks' words in cycle 4 sum up this attitude: “As much as I hate and preach about models not having to be stick-skinny, we have to face the fact that we are in a fashion industry. If you don’t fit the clothes, you don’t work.” Sadly, this message conveyed to millions of viewers that your body size defines success in the industry.

Model TV show impact on body image

The Next Top Model show often portrays thin individuals being criticized for not meeting modeling standards. Exposure to such commentary, even when directed at others, may lead viewers to develop a negative body image.

This theory was put to the test. A 2025 study investigated the impact of the Next Top Model show in Germany, involving 179 women, 36 of whom had diagnosed eating disorders.

Participants watched the 18th season of Germany’s Next Top Model and completed questionnaires before, during, and after each episode. The study found that both groups experienced increased body dissatisfaction even after the first episode. However, women with eating disorders exhibited a greater rise in state body dissatisfaction and self-ideal discrepancy. As the show progressed, their satisfaction with their own bodies continued to decline.

Researchers suggested that these negative effects may result from viewers comparing themselves to the very thin contestants. Additionally, repeated exposure to extremely thin bodies may alter perceptions of what is considered 'normal,' leading average bodies to appear 'too large' and further influencing self-image.

Influencers beauty standards

In the 2000s, TV personalities shaped how people saw beauty, but now social media has taken over. Models who were once on TV are now on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok.

Unlike TV shows that air once a week, social media influencers appear on our screens multiple times a day. While this might seem harmless, research warns that it may affect viewers negatively.

A 2023 study examined two groups of students: one from 2015 and one from 2022. The researchers wanted to see how social media use, body image, and disordered eating behaviors compared between the groups.

The study found that exposure to weight-loss content was associated with lower body appreciation and more frequent binge eating, with these negative outcomes more common in the 2022 cohort. Surprisingly, exposure to body positivity content did not provide protection against negative body image or disordered eating.

However, another study demonstrated that limiting social media use may reverse some of these effects. Two hundred twenty young adults were divided into two groups. One group had limited social media use to one hour per day for three weeks, while the other group had unrestricted access. The group with reduced social media exposure reported a significant increase in weight and appearance esteem.

GLP-1 era

Social media was once dominated by celebrities and influencers who advocated for body positivity. Currently, many of these figures promote weight-loss medications, contributing to the shift in public perceptions of body image.

According to a recent WellnessPulse article, Dr. Valter Longo, a Professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, said GLP-1 medications should be considered for obesity treatment only after dietary and other lifestyle interventions have failed, as determined by a team of specialized professionals.

As social media changes what’s seen as a 'normal' body, more people might start using GLP-1 medications even if they don’t need them.

This trend is reflected in a 2025 study involving 225 participants, 71.2% of whom were women, which examined interest in weight-loss medication. The study found that participants who expressed greater interest in trying GLP-1 and were willing to tolerate side effects also reported higher levels of body shame, weight concerns, disordered eating behaviors, and lower body appreciation.

Final thoughts

Like many reality TV shows, America’s Next Top Model can be entertaining. However, even if you feel immune to comments about other people’s bodies, the impact can be surprising. Research indicates that repeated exposure to extremely thin bodies on television may change perceptions of what is considered a ‘normal’ body.

Given the possibility of a 25th cycle, it is important to recognize that such shows often promote unrealistic beauty standards, which are frequently mirrored on social media. These standards shouldn’t be followed as an example.