Fact or Fiction - How To Decipher Online Nutrition Advice
With the emergence of social media being a ‘go to’ platform for nutrition information sharing and influencing, it is no wonder that ‘health’ messaging has become so convoluted and misinformed. In a world where information is available at a click of a button, being able to ‘prove’ a ‘theory’ or approach has never been so accessible.
On the contrary, using these platforms has the potential to be an empowering way to advocate for nutrition awareness and education if you have a trusted source. So how can we ascertain if the information we are reading is accurate, evidence-based and most importantly, ‘right for me’.
Lets go behind the words and look at the ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘how’ of the article.
Who is writing the article:
Unfortunately, here in Australia the term ‘nutritionist’ is not regulated, where anyone can post, blog and share food and nutrition advice using this title. As a result, we are starting to see an increase in people undermining science-based evidence and advertising ‘self-made’ treatments. This not only increases confusion, but places people at risk of following advice that is inappropriate and unsafe for their body.
In Australia, you want to look for an Accredited Practising Dietitian or Nutritionist that has been to University (Bachelor Nutrition & Dietetics, Bachelor Health Science (Nutrition) / Nutrition Science), where they have a deep understanding of the human body, biology, food chemistry and how these all work together. Completing a four-week nutrition course online, listening to a podcast or doing ‘nutrition as part of my course’ lacks the level of understanding required to provide safe and evidenced based recommendations for another person’s health.
What is the evidence:
Does the author know what they are actually talking about, or have they just listed the benefits without going into scientific detail. An appropriate article would also link sources of information and the research conducted/used.
Providing unsolicited diet advice around work, within families, and amongst friends can leave us feeling very confused, and even worse, sometimes becoming very unwell.
What are they selling:
Does the article link you to a product to buy? In some cases, there is genuine information that will help promote accessibility or useful information on where to buy appropriate food items. Red flags for fictional information include telling you that you have a problem - that no doctor has ever mentioned to you - and then directs you to links selling products that will ‘solve the problem’.
Further, watch out for information that suggests your health can be determined by the size or shape of your body. Be mindful of buzz words like ‘detoxify’, ‘metabolically enhancing’ and ‘fat burning’, which indicate a lack of scientific understanding.
How is this applicable to me, comes down to two important questions to ask yourself: Has this helped me further understand or learn about my concern and has this helped me find support?
We all have the right to look after ourselves in ways that feel aligned to our values. So if a post, article, blog, or story does not serve you well, honour that feeling and stop. Be curious and learn to know the facts from the fiction.
Author: Nicole Munro - Accredited Practising Dietitian