We live in an era where our quickest source of information comes from our finger tips. To help with this, professionals, experts, bloggers and influencers are eager to persuade you - their audience - by virtue of their outreach. With a large following, this builds credibility. Social media platforms are often used to deliver a message, promote a product or build a brand. As a result, trust is built and you can't help but be influenced by the advice of a stranger.
While there are countless industries out there - like travel, lifestyle, beauty, sport, fashion and photography - most people are persuaded to "follow" people who are in the nutrition/diet/wellness/fitness/health industry.
There's no denying that there is a lot hype and confusion in the media about the best diet, supplements and lifestyle strategies to achieve weight loss, change body composition, improve fitness/performance, enhance recovery and to combat aging. Far too often, this is all driven by the opportunity to make money and/or for popularity to be gained. Whether you want to admit it or not, in your naivety, you've probably been taken advantage of when it comes to 'buying' into someone's diet plan/program, supplemental line or promising claims.
We have a real problem on our hands. Inundated with messages reinforcing what's "good" vs. "bad", far too many people are struggling with serious mental and physical health issues after eliminating foods from the diet, exhibiting rigid behaviors around food or trying to replicate the sport nutrition strategies of another athlete. We all know an athlete who has suffered some type of endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, immunological or psychological dysfunction as a result of manipulating the diet for health or performance gains.
With so much attention on health and wellness, food is a fixation for many yet people are more confused than ever before. With a desire to lose weight, change body composition and improve fitness, you may not even realize that you are "following" someone who is giving unhealthy or impractical nutrition advice.
Many social media influencers do not provide credible information. This doesn't mean that they don't mean well but just because a person has hundreds of thousands of followers, this doesn't mean that he/she is a credible source of diet/nutrition/health information.
The next time you come across an "expert" in any field ask yourself the following to ensure he/she is the right person to take advice from:
- What makes this person credible to provide nutrition advice?
- Is this person transparent?
- Is this person truthful with advice/information?
- Is this person consistent with advice/information?
- Does this person give information that is nutritionally sound/evidence-based?
- Does this person have sufficient education, training, the right knowledge and time to provide realistic and practical information?
- Has this individual met scientifically and medically justified criteria to provide online advice?
- Is there bias in their nutrition advice because of other interests (money/sponsors)?
- Does this person provide prescriptive advice (food related allergies, weight loss or specific health/medical conditions) or general food related advice (ex. bananas have potassium).
- Does this person have a clear and comprehensive set of disclaimers assuming that all advice and plans/programs are undertaken at your own risk?
For any individual who provides information, consults or counsels in the fields of health and wellness, there are legal and ethical limitations regarding nutrition advice. For example, in many states, it is unlawful to engage in nutrition counseling unless you are a licensed dietitian. It's the responsibility of every individual (you and the expert) to know the difference between general nutrition information about food vs. prescriptive advice and who can legally diagnose/treat/care for your health and well-being.
It's wonderful to follow someone who is passionate about a certain topic or has built a platform around a personal journey. But when it comes to being influenced about your health, fitness and nutrition-related decisions, remind yourself that not every person is the expert that he/she appears (or claims) to be.