THE DARK SIDE OF 'INFLUENCER' DIETS: EXPERTS CALL OUT HEALTH INFLUENCERS FOR PROMOTING UNSAFE LIFESTYLES

A Russian extreme diet influencer was sent to prison for causing “intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm” to his one-month-old son.

According to reports, 44-year-old Maxim Lyutyi, with more than 60 thousand followers on his blogging channel starved his son to death by putting him on a strict sunshine diet, and not preventing the baby's mother from breastfeeding him as he believed that the toddler needed only vitamin D as his nourishment.

Last year, another health promoter Zhanna Shamsonova, 39, allegedly died of starvation, as she was subsisting entirely on a raw vegan diet. With over a million followers on Instagram, Zhanna’s actual cause of death has not been declared, but her mother attributed a cholera-like infection to her daughter's passing.

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Zhanna was a fierce proponent of uncooked herbivorous fare, who ate only a vegan diet consuming just fruits, sunflower seeds sprouts, fruit smoothies, and juices.

Similarly, a fashion influencer in India with a humungous amount of followers faced backlash for offering mental therapy sessions for a nominal fee on social media amidst the pandemic. She offered to be a good listener to those who were unhappy by charging them ₹1500.

She was criticized for her actions as she had no degree in psychology or mental health therapy.

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Experts believe when comes to health influencers, the lines between expert advice and personal opinion are often blurred.

Their hundreds and thousands of followers often take their word for the gospel, especially when their chiseled physiques, radiant skin, and persuasive charisma are repeatedly flashed on videos and pictures.

“Influencers often gain attention due to their promise of rapid weight loss or health benefits,” Dr. Sri Karan Uddesh Tanugula, Consultant General Physician, Yashoda Hospitals told Times Now.

“However, it is crucial to assess these diets through the lens of scientific evidence to determine their efficacy and safety,” he added.

Abundance of misinformation

With easy accessibility to the internet and social media, misinformation spreads faster than light. While many influencers genuinely aim to promote healthier lifestyles, not all have the qualifications or scientific understanding to do so accurately.

And as a result, most of their advice comes out as flawed, misleading, or even dangerous. Many are called out by experts – doctors and scientists – for promoting “lies”.

Many of their fans also trust the endorsement they do blindly, buying the products totally at face value.

Doctors say in many cases, the influencers are not even qualified to understand what they are promoting, or the long-term effects of a particular product being endorsed.

“Influencers often just promote fads that lack scientific support for their efficacy and safety. It is essential to advocate for evidence-based nutrition recommendations that prioritize long-term health and well-being over short-term trends,” said Dr. Tanugula.

According to experts, the most unfortunate consequence of health influencers is that they could end up discouraging consumers from seeking guidance from qualified healthcare professionals.

“It is essential to advocate for evidence-based nutrition recommendations that prioritize only long-term health and well-being over short-term trends. Encouraging patients to adopt balanced diets rich in whole foods and promoting sustainable lifestyle changes is key to achieving lasting health outcomes,” he added.

Experts say to protect your well-being, you must prioritize sound scientific advice over sensationalized trends and remember that genuine health and wellness are never one-size-fits-all. “After all, health is too precious to entrust to the unqualified,” said Dr Tanugula.

2024-04-18T09:13:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd