Social media trend: Thinking of Belly Button Challenge? Don't try it

First that harmful 'Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge' and now this 'Belly Button Challenge' has taken over the internet.

The basic concept of the challenge is to reach behind your back and with one arm touch your belly button.

It's difficult. It requires flexibility, but now people are taking it as a signal of fitness, in what is being dubbed the #bellybuttonchallenge.

Since Wednesday, the 'belly button challenge' has received more the 130 million hits and is the number one trending topic on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter. 

One selfie of a man with a beer belly successfully completing the challenge has gone viral in China.

The trend has gained traction on Twitter and Instagram in the US and Europe.

While some have poked fun at the challenge or posted pictures with flat abs that still missed the mark, there's an underlying current of competition and bragging rights associated with the images.

Posts from women who can reach their stomach’s center far outnumber those who demonstrate that they are unable.

Experts say that the challenge does not necessarily mean that you have a super-fit body, but that you have long arms or are very flexible.

Apart from doing stretching exercises regularly those who can successfully do this challenge are people who are very slim with very small waists.

Those who work hard on developing their six-pack might find the challenge harder.

But it is best to avoid it.

The impact of such challenges on social media is putting increasing pressure on young people in particular to look a certain way.

Having being constantly bombarded with fit and beautiful images of others – sometimes unfavourable – comparisons can be toxic, especially for people with eating disorder.

This new trend potentially poses a further threat to such vulnerable individuals.

Disturbing beauty trends like the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge and the Thigh Gap can create low self-esteem.

Such challenges encourage unhealthy comparison and competition among women.

In short: it's a useless trend that you should steer clear of.

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