Are TikTok’s nutrition hacks safe or accurate? Experts issue warning

nutrition

by Samantha Ibrahim

TikTok has become the go-to app for finding helpful information, from what skin care products to use to the best airport hacks to make traveling less painful.

But new research suggests certain health and wellness tips should be taken with a grain of salt.

A recent survey conducted by MyFitnessPal in collaboration with Dublin City University revealed that 57% of streaming platform fans use streaming platforms as their primary source of nutritional information.

They also concluded that only 2.1% of that information is actually accurate and regulated by public health law.

The study tested over 67,000 videos on social media platforms and observed 2,000 people.

Some of the most talked about health hacks that have surfaced on TikTok include “nature’s ozempic” (aka the supplement berberine) and the habit of marinating Diet Coke.

Katie Keil, chief marketing officer at MyFitnessPal, offered insight into why people embrace TikTok wellness clips as gospel, recently telling Delish that the trend is popular because it has a “sensational hook.” .

“The more abnormal it is, the more widespread it is,” she explained. “As consumers of social media, the best thing we can do is improve our digital health literacy, and that starts by following trusted experts and validating what we hear against science. ”

The study also noted that 87% of Millennial and Gen Z users fully trust TikTok for nutritional guidance.

67% said they try to incorporate at least one fitness trend from an app into their daily life every few weeks.

Kale also advised that it’s too dangerous to listen to trends on social media that promise “quick fixes.”

Headlines like “Lose weight fast” or “Lose belly fat fast” create “unrealistic expectations.”

“We’ve seen a lot of fad diets pop up recently, which can cause gastrointestinal problems, such as when consuming large amounts of chia seeds in the ‘internal shower’ trend.” she says.

The idea behind the “Internal Shower” drink was that simply mixing two tablespoons of chia seeds with a cup of water and lemon juice could improve bowel movements and relieve constipation.

Keel warned that some fad diets “focus on eating just one type of food, severely limiting your nutrient intake.”

“Eating a balanced diet with a variety of whole foods is a better approach to maintaining overall health and well-being,” she said.

She added that viewers should only be careful about the content they watch, as many videos are created in a way that is “overly simplistic or promotes a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.” Ta.

Therefore, just because a wellness influencer has a high following doesn’t mean their claims are legitimate or genuine.

“Be careful,” she forewarned, adding that people should first verify the information presented before jumping into the hack and using it.

“For consumers to scroll responsibly means getting a second opinion and ensuring that similar recommendations are provided to other health and nutrition experts,” Keel said. Ta.