The internet can be a great place. I love how it allows me to connect with loved ones, colleagues, and follow the every move of celebrities like Chrissy Teigen, who I consider “a friend in my head.” It’s also a platform to learn about almost anything. Who knew that sloths can hold their breath for 40 minutes? Or that Whitney Port says she turned down a one-night-stand with Leonardo DiCaprio in 2009.
Having said that, the internet has its issues. A lot of them. As a registered dietitian, my biggest beef with the internet is that it gives “wellness influencers” free reign. By wellness influencers, I don’t mean registered dietitians or other medical professionals who also happen to have a big following on social media. What I mean is the plethora of people who have no real health or nutrition credentials, yet have a lot to say about your health and the “best” way to live your life.
In this day and age, it’s tough to not conflate a large following with credibility on any topic, including health. When you notice that someone has tens or hundreds of thousands of engaged followers, it’s tough NOT to think “Huh, this person must really know what they’re talking about!” But that’s dangerous.
With all of the misinformation online, it’s hard to know who to trust. Next time you’re watching an influencer’s video with nutrition or health recommendations, ask these five questions before taking their ideas to heart.
Head on over to SELF to read the full article: I Don’t Know Who Needs To Hear This, But You Shouldn’t Get Your Nutrition Info From Influencers
Maria Rivera says
Yes!! This is why I am building Foublie, a platform that connects Registered Dietitians to parents for evidence based feeding advice. Sooooo much misinformation, including in the Pediatric Nutrition space! (I’m a pediatrician myself)
Wendy says
Sounds like a great platform!!