The recent death of Turkish social media influencer Nihal Candan, who had been battling anorexia nervosa, has reignited the national debate on eating disorders, body image ideals and the mental health impact of internet culture, particularly on young women, the BirGün daily reported.
Candan made her television debut in 2014 on the fashion competition show “Bu Tarz Benim” (This is My Style) and later gained wider recognition through her appearance on “Survivor” in 2016. She reportedly dropped to around 23 kilograms (50 pounds) before being hospitalized. She was 30 years old when she died on June 21.
Her death has prompted widespread debate in Turkey over the effects of social media–driven beauty standards and the mounting pressures young people face to conform to unrealistic ideals.
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder, often seen in young women, marked by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. People with the condition severely restrict food intake and may try to maintain an active lifestyle without adequate nutrition or rest, leading to both physical and psychological deterioration.
According to the World Health Organization, roughly 9 million people globally are diagnosed with eating disorders each year. Among the most common are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, with adolescent girls disproportionately affected.
Experts say the rise of filtered images, algorithmic beauty standards and online harassment has contributed to a surge in eating disorders in recent years.
Clinical psychologist Beste Hasırcı said anorexia is not merely a dietary issue but rather a manifestation of deeper psychological struggles, in which individuals express emotional pain through their bodies.
“To truly understand anorexia, we need to look beyond eating behaviors and examine the underlying emotions such as the need for control, feelings of worthlessness, shame, stress and a desire to be seen,” she said.
Hasırcı noted that the “perfect body” ideal promoted on social media places intense pressure on young people, often causing them to measure their self-worth against unattainable standards.
She added that recovery is possible, but only if treatment goes beyond weight gain or food intake and addresses emotional healing, rebuilding self-image and developing healthy coping strategies.
Candan had been arrested along with her sister, Bahar, on charges including money laundering and fraud in 2023. She reportedly experienced severe psychological and physical issues during her imprisonment. Her weight dropped to around 37 kilograms, and after the diagnosis, she was released pending trial.
Psychologist Zeynep Karataş said women in particular are frequent targets of online harassment related to their appearance.
“Even if a woman is one of the world’s top athletes and has won an Olympic medal, someone still feels the need to comment on features that women cannot easily change such as their weight, nose shape, lip size or the size of their legs or hips,” she said.
Karataş also challenged the widespread belief that mental illness can be overcome through willpower alone, saying this misconception contributes to stigma and inadequate treatment.
Candan’s death has been cited as an example of the toll such online culture can take. Dozens of posts in Turkish media and online forums have pointed to the pressure she reportedly faced to maintain a thin figure, a trait often portrayed as key to success and beauty in influencer circles.
Child and adolescent psychiatrist Associate Professor Hakan Öğütlü told the Türkiye newspaper that the notion that “thinness equals beauty” has become increasingly prevalent on social media, leading to a rise in body shaming.
“This often pushes people into constant dieting and weight loss efforts, which can quickly spiral out of control and eventually allow anorexia nervosa to take over their lives,” he said.
Öğütlü warned that untreated cases can escalate rapidly, with patients continuously lowering their weight goals to life-threatening levels.
“Let’s say someone weighs 50 kilograms, then the goal becomes 45, then 40, 35, 30 and eventually 25. Unfortunately, anything below 25 often ends in death,” he said.
He stressed the importance of self-acceptance and said that begins in the family.
“How a child is raised matters greatly. The love, respect and time given to them are invaluable. Parents should accept their children with love and stand by them without judgment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s recently launched public obesity campaign, which involves measuring citizens’ Body Mass Index (BMI) in public spaces, has sparked debate over privacy and societal pressure. Experts warn that such public assessments may shame individuals rather than promote healthy lifestyles.
In a country already facing widespread economic hardship and limited access to affordable nutrition, many experts argue that systemic change, not public pressure, is essential to improving long-term health and well-being.