Alester Brown

Why Fitness Misinformation is Harmful

The Internet has been a fantastic resource for fitness enthusiasts and those just beginning a fitness journey. From workout videos on YouTube to fitness and nutrition guides on dedicated websites, there's plenty of helpful information and knowledge-sharing on the web to assist people in getting fit and healthy.

Unfortunately, the Internet is also full of misinformation, and when it comes to fitness misinformation, the results can be harmful. Even fitness influencers can end up providing misinformation, and fitness influencer misinformation may be even more dangerous since influencers are generally considered trustworthy resources.

Misinformation May Have Grain of Truth

One of the challenges in identifying misinformation in the fitness world is that some misinformation contains a grain of truth. Oftentimes, misinformation starts out as mostly true, but over time as this information gets passed around the web, small details get changed or left out. Eventually, misinformation gets spread that may resemble something truthful, but at its core, the information is simply incorrect.

Misinformation Doesn't Account for Health Concerns

Another reason why misinformation can be dangerous is that it can't account for the unique health concerns of each individual. What may not be dangerous for you may be dangerous for someone else who has a different set of health challenges. This is why it's a good idea to run any type of nutrition or exercise advice by your doctor before making changes to your health routine.

Know Your Source

To combat fitness misinformation, it's a good idea to scrutinize the source. As mentioned, even fitness influencer misinformation can be a problem on the web, so no matter where you get fitness advice from, try to look for corroborating statements from medical journals and healthcare authorities. Simply taking someone's word for something could put your health in jeopardy.

You should also be mindful of comment sections on fitness and nutrition articles. Many well-meaning individuals inadvertently end up spreading fitness misinformation through these areas on articles and videos, so be careful about what you take as truth. Once again, run any advice and guidance by your doctor before making any major changes to your diet or exercise regimen.

Author Resource:-

Alester Brown writes about online fitness training. She advises people on home gym, online workouts & exercise. You can find her thoughts at fitness equipments blog.