REASON NO. 1 – EVERYBODY EATS

Everyone must eat as a matter of SURVIVAL

People tend to believe they are “EXPERTS” in what is effective, especially if their eating habits have been successful.

Many believe they have automatic authority or knowledge in this field. Hence the advice, proclamations, and claims made from there proceed.

Many of these claims are supported only by personal or unreliable opinions, among other things, by confirmation bias. This is a distinct issue. 

Everyone eats, making everyone an “expert” in the subject.

REASON NO. 2 – MISINFORMATION: ANYONE CAN WRITE A DIET BOOK

Unqualified people can write diet books, which have become quite popular.

The problem with unqualified authors writing diet books is that they often promote fad diets or make claims not backed by scientific research.

These books can also contribute to the diet culture and create a negative body image, leading to eating disorders and other mental health issues.

WHILE:

Science-minded people who are nutrition experts and could write books or advise the public are:

• – Too busy counselling clients or treating patients
• – Lacking marketing savvy

• – Refrain from bending the truth into something that hits all the right emotional hot buttons
• – They do not want to give advice that is not entirely accurate.

Therefore people who are successful in reaching the masses spread much MISINFORMATION.

A 2020 study looked at the credentials and occupations of the current top 100 bestselling diet book authors and the claims made in those books. 

(Marton, Wang, Barabási, & Ioannidis, 2020)

HERE’S WHAT THEY FOUND:

• Physicians comprised the largest proportion (33.7%) of the 14 occupations in the sample.

• The general public is UNAWARE of how woefully inadequate the nutrition course requirements are for physicians. 

• Dietitians comprised only 3.6% of the occupations, making them third to last in front of TV personalities and psychologists, who were tied for last place at 2.4%

• They also found that most of the authors of these books were NOT active in the peer-reviewed literature.

REASON NO. 3 – THE GENERAL PUBLIC LACKS SCIENTIFIC LITERACY

• This leaves them vulnerable to everything from well-meaning spreaders of misinformation to individuals and companies who purposely lie to consumers to make money.

• It is important to have the ability to assess the credibility of information as new information is constantly being generated from various sources.

SUMMARY

3 REASONS WHY WE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT TO EAT

• REASON NO. 1 – Everyone eats, making everyone an “expert” in the subject.

• REASON NO. 2 – Misinformation, anyone can write a health & fitness book.

• REASON NO. 3 – General Public lacks Scientific Literacy, which makes them believe everything they see is true

NEXT STEPS

• We should be careful when we see information and not believe everything we hear. 

• Not every method, product, or service is true and effective EVEN if it is well provided by some research-based claims. Research is inevitably flawed.

• Be your own scientist, be careful and gather information from credible sources before believing it.  

REFERENCE

Aragon, A. (2022). Flexible Dieting. Victory Belt Publishing.