In North Carolina, 34% of adults have a BMI of 30 or higher, which makes it crucial to seek nutrition advice from reliable sources to prevent further health issues.
Gen Z and millennials are notably influenced by nutrition trends. A recent survey revealed that 87% of these individuals turn to TikTok for health or nutrition advice.
"Relying on social media for nutrition advice can be risky since what works for one individual might not be suitable for another,” says Dr. Zachary S. Barfield, a family medicine physician at Atrium Health in Lincolnton, North Carolina. “A primary care provider or registered dietitian can provide you personalized diet recommendation based on your health history and individual goals.”
So how do you know what to believe?
Keep an eye out for these nutrition red flags:
- The advice comes from someone without proper nutrition credentials.
- It promises fast and desirable results from a specific eating pattern.
- It excessively promotes a particular product or brand.
- There's a lack of substantial research supporting the nutrition claim.
- The diet promotes an unbalanced diet by excluding an entire food group.
"It's crucial to carefully scrutinize nutrition advice because misleading information can undermine your overall health and well-being," warns Dr. Barfield, who sees patients of all ages at the Atrium Health Lincoln Family Medicine office. “These videos may also create a false expectation of lasting weight loss, when in reality, the diet they recommend is hard to maintain long-term.”
Losing 1 to 2 pounds of weight a week is a healthy amount of weight loss for those looking to lose weight. This method is also the most successful at keeping the weight off.
Among nutrition misinformation are misleading “What I eat in a day” social media videos, Dr. Barfield says. “The influencer is only showcasing one day’s worth of food which may not reflect the everyday person’s balanced and varied meals over the course of a week.”
Wanting to improve your diet is a great first step toward better health. Before you make any changes to your diet, make sure to check in with your health care provider.
Need weight loss advice? Find a primary care provider near you.
