Eating disorder experts are concerned about a new weight-loss goal in which young women aim to lose weight to have a “thigh gap.”

A thigh gap is a space seen between the thighs even if the feet are together. The process of obtaining a thigh gap is very risky and almost impossible. However, there are some models that naturally have a gap.

A study conducted in 2011 at the Haifa University found that those adolescent girls who spend a lot of time surfing the net and browsing social media area at more risk of having a negative body image and eating disorder. Thus confirming that social media plays an important role in the development of eating disorders.

Claire Mysko, who oversees teen outreach and digital media for the advocacy group National Eating Disorders Association told USA Today, "The issue of focusing on a particular body part is very common. What is new is these things have taken on a life of their own because of the Internet and social media."

Nancy Albus, chief executive officer of Castlewood Treatment Center, a suburban St. Louis facility that focuses on eating disorders, added, "The intrusion and presence of social media in our lives really does make it very difficult. The important distinction about thigh gap is it gives you an actual visual to achieve, this visual comparison of how your body does or doesn't stack up."

Therapist Kim Callaway said she often discourages their clients to visit social media or even remove their Facebook pages.

"It's not uncommon for people to be on Facebook talking about what they ate today, posting pictures of their meals or writing about how they're 10 pounds lighter than they were a month ago,” Callaway said to USA Today.

She added, "The ability to be instantly connected to everybody and see what they look like and see them blog or talk about what they are eating and what they do for exercise — this makes it a lot more difficult for those with eating disorders.”

The National Eating Disorders Association is campaigning against sites promoting thigh gaps. It has a website endorsing positive body image and support healthy point of view towards food and weight.