It is not unusual for celebrities to be endorsing various diet and nutrition products through their social media...for example...
Kim Kardashian: appetite suppressant lolly pops
Cardi B: skinny tea
Google knows what's up!
A little bit closer to home, an ex-bachelorette contestant recently faced backlash for posting about a carnivore diet which labelled otherwise healthy foods such as some vegetables, legumes, grains and healthy fats as "toxic".
So is this a problem? Do most of us just roll our eyes and scroll on? Or do we find ourselves increasingly turning to social media for nutrition and health advice?
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) released a position statement outlining the harmful effects nutrition misinformation can have on the health, well-being, and economic status of consumers. Studies are starting to examine the effects of social media use with one particular study linking higher Instagram use with a greater tendency towards orthorexia nervosa - an obsession with eating healthily.
Kim Kardashian: 237 million followers World Health Organisation: 11.1 million followers
Given the reach of celebrities and influencers, there is no doubt of the power they hold. To quote Spiderman's uncle..."With great power, comes great responsibility"...sadly, the nutrition and wellness space remains highly unregulated, leaving it up to the individual to try and decipher fact from fiction.
The Butterfly Foundation recently shared a great Instagram post, with some key points to help you decipher the quality of the information you are consuming online...
So before you find yourself purchasing a detox juice package or importing a 'life changing' supplement from South America, go through the checklist! Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
I work with women who are ready to step off the yo-yo dieting rollercoaster and make sustainable changes to their health and well being. Using the science of habit change you will learn how to incorporate automatic healthy habits into your day that will help you feel happier, healthier & live a life where weight loss and food no longer dominate your thinking!
If you would like to see what it could look like working together, book in a for a free session here!
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