Editor’s Note: This article has been edited for clarification of program topics.
The Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion held an online forum with Jody Margolis through the Quick Bites series on Oct. 10.
Margolis, UCI’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), dedicates her work to educating students on nutrition and wellness. Quick Bites was developed during the pandemic as a way to stay connected with one another, even if just for 30 minutes. Through these forums, Margolis created a platform for UCI students to discuss hot topics in nutrition. This past forum was specifically dedicated to cracking down on misinformation regarding nutrition in the age of social media and the rise of influencer culture.
The rise of social media in the past ten years has allowed users to connect and communicate with people globally. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok are all catalysts for this increased globalism. Nevertheless, the expansion of social media platforms also means the expansion of unregulated information, causing many to fall victim to “fake news,” clickbait headlines or blatant misinformation.
Margolis opened up the discussion by asking the participants where they have gotten their nutrition information, to which some said MyFitnessPal, Google or even advice from their swim coaches. She explained that these conflicting opinions can be confusing and sensationalized. The dieting industry, a multi-billion dollar industry, is the biggest driver in the misinformation about nutrition.
“91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting,” Margolis said. She hopes to untangle that practice, especially here at UCI.
Margolis identified the five ways to detect nutrition misinformation on social media as food fads, fad diets, health fraud, misdirected health claims and influencer testimonials.
“Who is saying that they’re healthy? It’s the marketing industry,” Margolis said.
Fad diets, such as keto, paleo or anything with the word “cleanse,” are detrimental to one’s body. Margolis explained that our body does not need to do any cleanses if it has all the nutrients it needs, which can be attained by simply eating fruits and vegetables. The magic of the dieting industry is highly sensationalized on social media as it promotes the encouragement of rapid weight loss through the selling of products.
As an example, Margolis cited Kylie Jenner, who has promoted FitTea, an alleged 28-day detox tea, as a sponsored post on her Instagram account with over 371 million followers. FitTea claims to aid weight loss through a “seemingly insignificant boost in metabolism” which ultimately “help[s] to burn stored body fats and reduce fat storage.” However, drinking a fad herbal tea for a month cannot take the place of eating healthier and creating a balanced lifestyle. These sponsored posts and gimmicks rely on impressionable consumers who struggle with body image and health issues.
“When we don’t feel good about ourselves, we tend to fall for these schemes even more,” Margolis said.
Margolis concluded her forum by emphasizing the importance of spotting misinformation on social media and directing her participants to credible nutrition sources, which are usually from organizations, higher learning institutions and research facilities. These sources tend to stay away from exaggerated headlines and focus more on evidence-based claims that do not attempt to sell a product.
Although college can be quite busy, Margolis suggested ways for students to eat healthily and plan accordingly, like meal prepping instead of grabbing a quick bite at UTC. Scrolling through social media can be damaging, but Margolis ended with a reminder, “[A] healthy relationship with food and body is a key component for overall wellness.”
Join Jody Margolis in her next Quick Bites session on Oct. 24, where she will share tips on mindful eating. More information can be found on UCI’s Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion website.
Elaine Cha is a Campus News intern for the fall 2022 quarter. She can be reached at emcha@uci.edu.