Throughout the past year, social media has opened my eyes to an extremely prominent women’s health issue. PCOS or fully known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is defined by Mayo Clinic as, “a problem with hormones that happens during the reproductive years.” (2024). This is a hormonal disorder that affects up to 10% of women of the reproductive age. This syndrome especially affects infertility which is devastating for many women.
While many know influencers as having their niche specialties such as lifestyle, cooking, fashion, etc., I have found myself coming across many who specifically focus on their PCOS and balancing their hormones. In recent years, the rise of social media platforms like TikTok has provided a platform for women to be able to share their experiences and insights on managing PCOS, particularly through food-related content. PCOS food TikTok vloggers have emerged as influencers, offering tips, recipes, and support to those navigating the challenges of living with this condition.
In addition, these women are even discussing their many symptoms which have led them to discover their diagnosis. In return, this is bringing awareness to other women who unknowingly had/have PCOS. One influencer that you may know in particular is @MealsSheEats. This account was originally started in secret by Tom Sullivan, husband to Rachel Sullivan who has PCOS herself. He began this account to show recipes he was creating in order to balance his wife’s hormones and promote fertility. In the past few years his identity has been revealed and his account has absolutely blown up. They have even created their own best selling cookbook named after this account, “Meals She Eats”. This includes their many recipes that they have promoted on TikTok. Accounts like these that have made their name in the TikTok community among many others are bringing comfort to thousands and maybe even millions of people that they may never even know. You can watch the TikTok that explains their story and explore their page for more here: https://www.tiktok.com/@mealssheeats?lang=en
Beyond the fact that they continue sharing practical tips and recipes, PCOS food TikTok vloggers also foster a sense of community and support for women living with PCOS. By sharing their own experiences and struggles, they create a safe space for others to connect, seek advice, and feel less alone in their journey. This sense of womanhood throughout the social media community is invaluable, especially for those who may feel isolated or misunderstood due to their condition including those who are very new to their diagnosis. As a young woman this is extremely comforting to know that there is a community for me to fall back on. To be able to look up to and relate to these women is extremely valuable. My mom speaks about her experience with endometriosis which is similar to PCOS and how she wishes she too had a community like this. I feel with her and many others who may feel like they don’t have a safe space to be able to talk about their experience with PCOS or conditions similar to it.
I hope that through social media accounts like I mentioned previously we can continue to bring awareness to PCOS so that way women all over the world who are dealing with the same conditions have a community.
To become more educated about PCOS and the health community on TikTok view these links:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439
https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2022/09/15/tiktok-pcos-community
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