SLIDE 1

For my presentation I chose the topic of « Nutrition information and misinformation (on the
internet and in the news)» which I believe is an actual , sensible matter which has always
interested me because In the past I struggled with my weight and body image and used to
follow «social media influencers» even knowing that the nutritional information they
provide is often over-simplified or even incorrect,.

SLIDE 2

We´ll start by looking at the three main types of information disorders and their
consequences. Next I´ll give you a brief definition and some examples of popular fad diets
explaining why some groups of people are more affected by these trends.Finally I´ll present
some tips on how to recognize credible nutritional information and tell you who you should
see if you need help.

SLIDE 3

These days, if we have a question of any type we just reach out for our smartphones,
tablets, or computers and find the answer on the internet, most likely through search
engines that will provide an unbelievable amount of information! The bad news is, that most
of the information easily found on the Internet may not be coming from reliable and
scientific based source
To make matters worse,many individuals, especially in the nutrition area, pose experts in
order to sell a product or service, and ultimately this leads to more confusion about food,
body and nutrition.

SLIDE 4

The three most usual types of food misinformation are fad diets ,health frauds and misdirected
claims,
A fad diet is a type of diet , with no scientific basis,that becomes popular for a short time
promising fast weight loss or health improvements. It usually promotes the idea that
consuming certain food items or the combination of certain foods one will lose weight or
prevent/cure a disease.
And what is a Health fraud? It involves selling drugs, devices, foods, or cosmetics that have not been
proven effective. Spectacular results are usually promised and paid for, but not scientifically
proven. Common examples include promises of «fast,quick and easy weight loss» or «a
miracle ,cure-all product.» Keep in mind - at best, these scams don't work. At worst, they're
dangerous.

A Misdirected health claim is a form of trick to draw the the attention of the consumer to
the advantages of a product in order to distract him from the disadvantages.Examples
include foods that are low in fat or carbohydrates, yet still high in calories
SLIDE 5

We all know there’s a lot of information in the media which can be super helpful and
informative. But, especially when it comes to nutrition it can also become very
overwhelming and confusing . Anyone can post their opinion and beliefs in sources such as
websites, television, radio, newspapers, advertisements, and make it sound great even if the
information is true.
For that reason fad diets ,which are the most usual example of food misinformation, can be
an easy trap to fall into. In the chart you can see a selection of four popular fad diets ( the
Paleolithic , the Hallelujah,the Rawish and the Atkins diets) and their potential dangers.
So let's see : the Paleolithic for example consists of meat,fish,vegetables and fruit diet
,which excludes dairy,sugar and some carbohydrates. It can lead to short -term weight loss
but on the other hand it can result in protein deficiencies, leading to immune system
problems.

SLIDE 6
In general, I can say that fad diets are highly restrictive and most people can't stand the food
they have to eat while they´re dieting. After a while they get fed up , overeat and as a result
gain the weight they had lost.Consequently they feel ashamed and sometimes regret the
time and effort they spent in the process. It won't be long till they hear of the newest fad
diet from their friends or the media and start all over again believing that this time things
will be different,

SLIDE 7
In general fad diets contain very few calories (sometimes only 500 a day), they cut out
entire food groups especially fats or carbohydrates) and are based on unproven theories . So
it's no surprise that in the majority of cases they don´t accomplish the promised results. It's not
about losing weight faster and regaining it later on. Weight loss is best if it is slow and
steady. And contrary to what information in the media might say; exercising and eating
healthy serves everyone better than pills, fad diets and any other products

SLIDE 8

Serious health problems resulting from the adoption of fad diets include :
● Fatigue
● Constipation
● Bad breath
● kidney stones
● Cardiovascular problems
SLIDE 9

Food and nutrition misinformation may have a negative impact in the consumer's health
and general well-being and have consequences in the physical, phycological and economic
levels.

- Harm can happen at the physical level as a result of drug-nutrient interactions or toxic
components in the foods.
- At the psychological level consumers might develop some trust issues ). It can also lead
consumers to lose faith in traditional sources of nutrition information and to give less
attention to real findings.
- Economical losses can occur when remedies, treatments, and cures fail to work and when
products are unnecessarily bought. Consumers might also experience lack of money for
proper help.

SLIDE 10

Some groups of the population are more vulnerable to food misinformation and as a consequence
are more targeted .

● Older Adults: (over the age of 6 0) Many products such as vitamins and minerals
claim to reverse or delay conditions associated with aging,, to cure or prevent
diseases and make life longer,
● Overweight people: Weight-loss is a multibillion DOLLAR industry that includes
books, fad diets, drugs, special foods, and weight-loss clinics. Some products or
treatments may lead to weight-loss, but the effect is usually temporary and harmful.
● Adolescents: teens may experience feelings of insecurity about their bodies , causing
many to experiment with products that promise to improve appearance or speed
development. At this age, fad diets are very dangerous.
● Athletes: Athletes may be receptive to non verified claims for increasing their energy
and improving their athletic performance.

SLIDE 11

If you want to be able to spot misinformation, you will need to know what questions to ask
before wasting your hard earned money! To help distinguish fact from fiction, here are a few
tips to follow:
If the claims sound too extreme such as one food wonder cure or eliminating entire food
groups to cure a cough, this should set off your internal alarm. When something sounds too
good to be true, it usually is.
Another good question to consider is whether the site is educational or promotional.
Educational sites intend to provide nutrition education, whereas promotional sites are for
the sole purpose of selling a product.
Websites should be from credible web addresses ending in .edu (an educational institution), .gov
(government agency), or .org (non-profit). Any web pages that end in .com (commercial) or .net
(networks) should be reviewed with caution.
Always examine the author’s qualifications. He or she should be educated in the field of
nutrition/dietetics, and preferably hold a degree from an accredited university . These
individuals should also belong to a credible nutrition organization.
The bottom line is, be cautious and check the facts before you buy into everything you read
or hear…especially when it comes to the internet!

SLIDE 12

Nutrition is a relatively new and complicated science. There is a tremendous amount of

misinformation and miscommunication in the field. Think about it: You wouldn’t ask a celebrity
how to build a safe bridge; you’d ask a professional engineer . The same expertise needs to be
applied to nutrition So if you need help get your advice from people and places that are
trustworthy, including Registered Dietitians and reputable research centers and health
organizations.
They are known as a registered dietitian (RD) or a licensed dietitian (LD), and have
specialized degrees in dietetics, nutrition, public health, or related sciences from an
accredited university.

SLIDE 13

When it comes to nutrition, misleading and unreliable information can have harmful effects on
the health, well-being, and economic status of consumers.
I believe that having access to suitable basic nutrition information provided by a qualified
professional can help a person to understand the role of nutrition in their own life as well as
have a greater perspective on what is appropriate for themselves and their own .