Buzz
Health advice is all over the place, but when you follow someone on Instagram who seems credible—lots of followers, verified checkmark, reputable blog—you’d think you’re getting the real deal. Unfortunately, much of it is still misleading.
Recently, researchers revealed that eight of the UK’s top nine fitness influencers failed a test designed to assess whether their accounts provided credible fitness advice. All of the influencers had over 80,000 followers, were verified on two social media platforms, and ran blogs with articles and recipes. The researchers focused on whether the accounts followed evidence-based practices and whether their recipes met UK nutrition standards. The names of the influencers were not disclosed, and the details of the test weren’t fully published. (The research was presented at a conference, not in a peer-reviewed journal.)
This doesn’t surprise me—there’s so much bad advice out there. I’ve seen influencers pushing supplements that are ineffective (or potentially harmful), recommending foods that contradict their own dietary advice (like sugary smoothies), and promoting dieting habits that seem dangerously close to disordered eating. I’ve also seen claims about “detoxifying” or how a certain trendy food can magically boost your immune system.
The study didn’t single out Instagram specifically, but nonsense is definitely widespread there. This might be because we see people offering advice while appearing fit and healthy, even though we know they likely achieved that look first and then built a career based on it—they sell whatever is popular, not necessarily what worked for them personally. So, be cautious and apply the same level of skepticism to social media that you would in any other situation.
