The fibremaxing phenomenon: Social media’s new healthy eating trend

Abstract:

The increasing influence of social media on dietary behavior has led to the emergence of "fibremaxing," a modern nutrition trend focused on maximizing dietary fibre intake to improve digestive health, metabolic function, satiety, and overall well-being. Popularized on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, fibremaxing promotes the consumption of high-fibre foods, including whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and functional dietary products. Scientific evidence increasingly supports the health benefits of adequate dietary fibre intake, particularly in modulating gut microbiota, promoting short-chain fatty acid production, regulating glycaemic response, influencing lipid metabolism, regulating appetite, and preventing chronic disease. High-fibre dietary patterns have been associated with lower risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disorders, and metabolic syndrome. However, despite its growing popularity, the fibre-reducing phenomenon also raises concerns regarding misinformation, oversimplified nutrition advice, excessive fibre intake, and the lack of individualized dietary recommendations on social media platforms. This review critically examines the scientific relationship among dietary fibre, gut microbiota, metabolic health, and chronic disease prevention, while exploring the role of social media in shaping modern dietary trends and wellness culture.