Taylor Swift's lyrics and videos help fans deal with body image issues and eating disorders, researchers say

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Throughout “The Eras Tour: Taylor's Version” on Disney+, you'll hear lyrics about Taylor Swift's struggle with eating disorders.

Expressing the need to look slim and perfect was so well received by fans that researchers wanted to investigate it further.

They found that the “Swift Effect” helps break down barriers related to one’s own body image.

In her lyrics “You're on Your Own Kid,” Swift addresses the mental anguish that many of her fans struggle with.

“I’m almost in my twenties and I still feel like I have to conform to a certain body type,” said one young lady.

Her music videos, like the one with the bathroom scales scene, are full of messages.

“Personally, I struggled with a lot of physical problems growing up,” said Geo Arriaga of Glendale.

In her documentary “Miss Americana,” Swift talks about how she had to deal with hurtful words from the press and comments on social media.

Swift's personal revelations went viral on social media and sparked interest among food and science researchers at the University of Vermont who wanted to understand the phenomenon.

So Lizzy Pope and her colleagues searched TikTok and Reddit.

“We went through all of these posts and coded them based on the themes we saw. And that's how we conducted our qualitative research,” she said.

They found Swift to be a role model for those struggling with negative eating habits, and her openness about the topic helps to destigmatize eating disorders.

“I think that by being open about her eating disorders and body image, she has the opportunity for other people to talk about their problems and get treatment,” Pope said.

But despite the positive impact, researchers found that many fans still persistently objectified Swift's body online.

“When you say she looks good now, didn't she look good at another time? It's a very sensitive subject when we start talking about people's bodies,” she said.

You can read their full results here.

People still have a lot to learn, but Pope said having a megastar like Swift address her body image issues helps start a discussion.

“It's just another place where I can connect with patients and encourage them if they're Swifties or fans of Taylor Swift,” Pope said.

“I think it’s important for people to talk about it more,” said Jackelyne Munera of North Hollywood.

The study's authors hope that Swift will continue to help people develop a more harmonious relationship with food and their bodies.