An experiment led by the University of Stockholm confirms that many New Year's resolutions focus on physical health and eating habits. However, the difficulty in distinguishing truthful information from false information leads many people to follow advice without scientific evidence, with potentially harmful effects.
Data from Google Trends shows that diet-related searches double every January compared to previous months. This trend, according to María José Soto-Méndez, co-founder of SNH-Global and scientific director of the Ibero-American Nutrition Foundation (Finut), is due to the temporary loss of habits during Christmas.
“"temporary loss of our eating habits and our lifestyle"
The National Food Strategy already warned that consumers seek information from unofficial sources, leading to a high risk of spreading false news. Rafael Urrialde, professor at the Complutense University of Madrid and food expert, stresses that information on social media “is not contrasted or based on evidence”.
Soto-Méndez warns of erroneous information spread by individuals without health training, such as fashion or acting influencers. These tips, even if transmitted with good intentions, lack scientific support and are not universally applicable, as is the case with the promotion of so-called “superfoods”.
“"following extreme diets or consuming unsafe dietary products can cause real harm, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, eating disorders, hospitalization for acute or chronic illnesses, and, in rare cases, death"
Melissa Fernandez, a professor at the University of Ottawa, points out that, in the best-case scenario, consumers only lose money and time. Both she and Soto-Méndez agree that the best option is always to consult a professional and be cautious with any content that sells products or promises “miraculous” results.
