With just the touch of our fingers, we can easily access information on basically anything. From what I’ve seen on social media, the majority of the algorithm consists of health and wellness influencers on my explore pages. As a nutrition and dietetics student, I have enjoyed the increase of expanding health and wellness (especially on Tiktok and Instagram), as it has made nutrition much more accessible to the public eye. With that being said, it is super important to also take caution with the information we receive on the internet, and determine whether its fact or opinion. Here are 3 tips to check if nutrition information is reliable on social media:
1) Check their Credentials!
It is important to first know if the particular influencer has education in the nutrition field. Healthcare professionals such as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Registered Nurse (RN), or Doctor of Medicine (MD) have education in nutrition. Although a personal trainer may have knowledge on nutrition and advice on foods that perform well for their clients, they do not need prior education and they are not trained, healthcare professionals.
2) Is it too good to be true?
If the influencer is promoting a product where they claim that you will see “fast” or “instant” results, you should proceed their content with caution. If they explain how this “hack” can result weight loss within a week, understand that these methods are unsustainable for improving our overall health. A quick fix does not improve health. Improving overall health and nutrition is a constant work in progress, and claims that “boost metabolism,” “lose weight,” or even demonize food groups (carbs being the main enemy) are not evidence-based recommendations.
3) Do they support their claims with research?
The last thing to check if nutrition information is reliable on social media is seeing if they provide scientific research and cite their sources on their posts. This can ultimately determine if the nutrition claim is backed by science, and not just a stated opinion that worked just for them. Social media can work wonders for improving nutrition and health for the public eye with the touch of our finger tips. However, we need to be mindful and take caution with the claims we see, and know how to identify the facts rather than a “quick fix.”
Written by GUADS intern Kristen, edited by staff member Emily
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