Mixed Messages Over Healthy Diets Causes Confusion Among Fitness Enthusiasts

According to a recent health study, mixed messages over “healthy” diets are causing “significant” confusion among fitness enthusiasts.

Conflicting expert reports over what is right and wrong means the vast majority of regular exercisers do not know if the food they eat is really doing them any good.  In fact, a whopping 80% admit they are “clueless” over the nutritional benefits of different food types – and have no idea what they should be consuming in order to bulk up or slim down.

Seventy-two per cent of the 2,000 regular exercisers polled believe misleading food advertising is partly to blame for a lack of understanding over what is or isn’t healthy.  But this doesn’t tell the whole story – 44 per cent regularly get nutritional information from internet searches which can provide unsubstantiated claims.  While a full quarter of those polled believe internet influencers are a reliable source for healthy eating advice – even though they may not have any medical background whatsoever.

Commissioned by Optimum Nutrition, the study found just 15 per cent utilize peer-reviewed studies and books. And fewer than one in 10 tend to seek advice from a personal trainer (PT) – however, 30 per cent would consider doing so in the future. The research also found around one in 10 actively rely on influencers on social media for their healthy lifestyle advice – despite them potentially issuing inaccurate information.  One in seven have even purchased a “nutrition product” after seeing it advertised by an online influencer even though they didn’t know if the item had proven benefits.

Carried out through OnePoll, the study also found a lack of understanding over what is good for you could also be dangerous when it comes to working out.  Typically those polled spend four hours a week exercising and two fifths have experienced lightheadedness, shakiness or dizziness during a workout.  Of those who have suffered these symptoms, half believe they did not eat or drink enough, nearly a fifth fear they ate the wrong things, while a third said they do not know how soon to eat before or after exercise.  The study also found just a fifth are very confident they understand the benefits of protein when exercising, and the same proportion feel similarly about the rewards of carbohydrates.

Still, although there is confusion over nutrition, 90% are clear that what you eat is as important as exercise.  And if fitness junkies are confused, regular consumers are probably overwhelmed by what’s “good” and “bad” too.  So overwhelmed that they could give up on the idea of eating healthy altogether.  Clearly, simplifying things is in order.

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