Public-health risk expression and governance of low-threshold exercise and health content on Douyin short-video platforms: a case study of follow-along fitness short videos
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction Follow-along exercise and health short videos provide the public with convenient exercise references, yet their efficacy statements, applicability conditions, and risk information warrant attention. Methods Using a sample of 250 videos from Douyin, this study employed a diagnostic evaluative content analysis to examine efficacy claims, applicability boundaries, risk warnings, and professional justification. Intercoder reliability was assessed, and comparisons were conducted across content types. Results The proportions of videos meeting the severe expressive-problem criterion (score 3) were 36.8% for risk warnings, 34.4% for efficacy claims, and 25.6% for applicability boundaries, compared with 2.0% for professional justification. A total of 54.4% of the videos exhibited at least one score-3 problem, and 36.0% exhibited two or more. Content type was statistically associated with score-3 distributions for Dimensions B, C, and D (all Holm-adjusted p < 0.001), whereas Dimension E did not reach significance ( p = 0.369). Fat-loss and body-shaping videos were more likely to show efficacy-claim problems, while pain-relief and general rehabilitation videos were more likely to show problems with applicability boundaries and risk warnings. Discussion Governance of follow-along content should be tailored to specific contexts, improving efficacy statements, applicability conditions, risk warnings, and the articulation of professional justification.
Source: Frontiers in Public Health
Authors: Yigang Zhang, Zhi Qu, Xiaoyan Guo, Yilin Zhao
Institution: Qufu Normal University
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7223030800