If you’re looking to improve your health and fitness, it’s important to know who you can trust. Unfortunately, there are many so-called “experts” who claim to be experts in fitness and nutrition when they actually have no credentials or education in those fields.
But how do you know if an influencer is telling the truth about their own fitness journey? And more importantly, how do you know if they’re offering sound nutrition advice?
Here are some signs that should raise a red flag about any fitness expert or influencer offering nutrition advice:
- They claim that they’re “not an expert” or have “no formal qualifications.” This is a classic ploy because it allows them to say whatever they want without fear of being held accountable for it. If someone claims that they’re not an expert, ask them what their credentials are, and if they can’t provide any evidence for their expertise, run away from them as fast as possible!
- They say things like “I’m not here to tell you what you should eat — only what works for me” or “eat whatever works best for your body type.” Again, this is a common tactic among charlatans because it allows them to get away with almost anything.
- They’re selling something. Any time you see an expert promoting a product or service, it’s worth investigating whether the recommendation is actually based on science or whether it’s just a way for them to make money. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
- They’re using scare tactics. The best way to sell something is with fear — so don’t fall for any claims that suggest you’ll lose weight easily if you follow their plan without fail or else suffer dire consequences (e.g., “You’ll gain 50 pounds if you stop eating this food”). You should always be skeptical of such claims because they’re not based on facts, but rather on anecdotes and assumptions about how our bodies work that may not apply to everyone.
