We live in times of information overload in almost every domain. And it can be very challenging to sieve through all of this information and choose what's accurate and useful.
In this post I will stick to talking about ‘the health & fitness industry’, as that's where my experience and expertise lie.
Everyday I get a few messages from either clients, friends or family enquiring after the credibility of some content found on the Internet or Instagram.
So today I will share with you some strategies that you can look at using to save yourself from succumbing to confusion on the veracity of what you come across:
A. Trust articles & journals that are peer reviewed:
No matter what the website, if an article is reviewed by an industry professional then it is usually evidence based. So look for this information. Also look for information on the writer - what are the persons credentials, area of expertise, years of experience in the industry and check whether the persons article (if giving out any critical health information) is medically reviewed.
If not, then take whatever you are reading with a pinch of salt.
I usually trust the 'health & fitness' related articles published on Healthline as they are mostly peer reviewed. I also read Certified, which is a monthly magazine from American Council on Exercise for Fitness Professionals. I also subscribe to newsletters & blogs in the areas of my interest written by individuals I trust.
Whatever you choose to read & believe in, ensure you have some knowledge about the credentials of the writer.
B. Don't trust any health or fitness related information circulating on WhatsApp:
Unless verified by a trusted source, do not take any information on 'health & fitness' that you receive on WhatsApp at face value (and this includes all the natural remedies & content on what you need to eat on empty stomach to lose fat or whatever else).
While most of the posts you receive may appear to have been written by a recognized person, they are often just impersonations. So be absolutely sure before blindly accepting unverified pieces of information. And definitely refrain from forwarding them to others.
C. Know that research is constantly evolving:
Everyday there are new research findings. So what you think is right today can be proven wrong tomorrow (I am not saying it will be proven wrong but there is always a possibility). By all means make your decisions based on current evidence but keep in mind that everything is evolving.
Navigating Social media like Instagram:
Today, there has been a spurt of fitness influencers and fitness enthusiasts which is great as it shows that more people are showing interest in living a healthy lifestyle. However, this has also led to too many ideas, opinions & schools of thought on almost everything from what to eat, what not to eat, to which exercise is the best & how best to squat or plank. This can make it very confusing for a person looking for the right information. So here are some tips to navigate this space:
A. Avoid using Social Media for drawing conclusions on how to eat or exercise:
Everything you see on Social Media / Instagram account is a personal opinion & not a gospel. Unless the statements are backed by current scientific research take everything you read in this space with a pinch of salt.
B. Seek advice from your trainer:
If you are signed up with an exercise professional for your training then seek advice from them. Hopefully you took the time to choose your trainer & trust their knowledge.
And if you are looking for nutrition advice then the best person to reach out to would be a registered dietitian.
C. Allow room for difference of opinion:
It's possible that you do not resonate with the methods prescribed by an industry renowned professional. Just because the individual is popular and experienced does not mean everything they say will work for you. Give room for such possibilities.
D. Keep your Instagram feed positive and inspiring:
You can do this by choosing to follow individuals who showcase & talk about their own work vis-à-vis individuals who nitpick on other fitness professionals or harp about how their methods and school of thought is the best, oftentimes using disparaging language while addressing others in the industry (and many of these individuals will have a huge follower base. So using follower base as a metric to gauge a person's credibility and positive intentions is not usually reliable). Use your own judgement here. Pay close attention to what you are consuming and how that's making you feel.
The reason why this is important is because consuming information with a negative vibe promotes negativity bias which can cloud your judgement and is also not good for your well being. What you consume should leave you feeling positive and inspired.
Those are all the tips that I have. I use them all to help me find my way through the labyrinth of information. I hope you found them useful. Do feel free to share some of your own ideas, in case you have any.
Very good call out on the unverified source of information creating rumours and panic, wrong beliefs in people. Important to educate our friends and family on this important social issue
Love your weekly update. Especially, the topics you choose and build the story around that; great going.