“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation,
nor does truth become error because nobody sees it,”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Access to health information is everywhere. You can find it through an internet search to self-diagnose an ailment, recent news stories about something causing cancer, or well-meaning friends sharing the latest diet craze that worked for them. Most of us hear a continuous stream of remedies and warnings that may impact our wellness.
All this access to information is a double-edged sword. Unless we have the knowledge and tools to sort through all this data, we may fall prey to misguided communication that will not help us and quite possibly hurt us.
Unfortunately, the general public is bombarded with misinformation that plays into an ever-growing desperate need to lose weight, improve health, relieve pain and reduce the risk of developing chronic disease. Many sources of “information” are in sound bites, do not come from trustworthy sources, and do not separate sound science from opinion, hype, and marketing spin.
At Living LEAN
We believe in educating our clients to be skeptical about health information they hear rather than taking things for face value.
We break down the science into easy-to-understand terms to arm our clients with the skills and tools to make the best decisions for their health, fitness, and wellness.
We teach our clients how to sift through the barrage of health information that’s out there and provide a core of trusted sources of reliable information.
To keep things simple, we will provide a quick checklist of what to look for when searching for reputable sources of health information and red flag warnings to identify B.S. when you see it!
Along with digging for the truth, it is equally important to remember that science and research are ever-evolving fields, and new information becomes available over time. The more studies conducted about a specific health concern, the more finetuned the evidence becomes, and essential to look for the most current information you can find.
To start, you want to develop an attitude of “show me the science” anytime to hear the latest and greatest health information. In other words, when your health, fitness, and wellness are on the line, do not simply take what you hear for face value.
Instead, investigate and do these three things:
Question “supposed” authority
Be skeptical
Require intellectual honesty
You owe it to yourself and your long-term wellness to be very cautious about what you hear and what you choose to do about it.
What you should know about different sources of health information:
There are two sources of scientific data: primary and secondary.
Primary sources follow scientific methods to gather data, are replicated, the subject is peer-reviewed, and researchers follow a scientific code of conduct.
Although it may be difficult to obtain primary sources of information unless you are in the medical field, you can still search for secondary sources that reference their primary source and become better informed with the truth.
We generally find secondary sources on an internet search that do not guarantee accuracy. It’s not to say you cannot find reliable information on the internet, but you want to look deeper and ask a few more questions.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ National Institute on Aging, you should ask yourself these six questions before trusting any health information you find on the internet:
Who sponsors or hosts this website, and what is the website’s mission or goal?
Who wrote the information, and who reviewed it?
When was the information written?
What is the purpose, and why was the site created?
Does the site clearly state its privacy policy, and is my privacy protected? It is also essential to know how to protect yourself from predatory websites.
Does the website provide a quick and easy solution or miracle cure for the problem I am trying to fix?
Make a personal commitment to critically evaluate any secondary source of health information; asking these five questions to endure the information you are relying on to keep you healthy will help you meet your goal.
The quick list below will help you decide whether to continue reading or look for another source.
Red flags Quick list:
Information is anonymous – If the article does not highlight the author and their credentials, you may want to look for something else.
Conflicts of interest – Is the information source selling something or asking you to buy a product? If so, this is not science. It is marketing!
Information is biased or one-sided – Is the author only highlighting one side of evidence?
Information is out of date (more than two years old)
Claims to have a miracle cure – If the site claims to cure different illnesses or problems with a single product it is not science-based information. It is marketing and sales.
No evidence cited – If the information does not reference a trustworthy source, it may not be reliable information.
Poor spelling and grammar
Greenlight Quick List:
Evaluate the evidence – Is the type of research appropriate, reliable, and a helpful source of current information?
Evaluate the source – Is the source of information and its content reported by an accredited author, without an agency plan, and has the information been peer-reviewed?
Evaluate the information – Is the information well-sourced, science-based, makes common sense, and supported by facts? Do multiple sources agree with the findings and is the information current (two years old or less)?
We get it. It can take a lot of time and effort to go through every piece of health information with a fine-tooth comb like this. Asking all these questions and investigating everything the media inundates you with could get exhausting.
To keep things simple for you, listen to your “little voice,” that one that perks up and says, “that doesn’t sound right,” or “yeah, right! That sounds too good to be true.”
You can always ask us!
Living LEAN is an evidence-based, client-centered coaching practice with a passion and mission to serve in the best interest of our clients. We will dig through and investigate for you and provide the truth as best we know it.
Don’t just take our word of advice.
You may also find these articles from the Illinois Library helpful you determine if a source of information is scholarly and help you evaluate your sources: https://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/scholarly/
This resource from the Greater Good Magazine, which provides science-based insights for a meaningful life, provides an insightful read about 10 questions to ask about scientific studies
Here are some great resources Living LEAN uses to provide evidence-based health and medical information to our clients:
Health on the Net: https://www.hon.ch/en/
Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/
MedlinePlus: https://medlineplus.gov/
American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/
American Diabetes Association: https://www.diabetes.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/
National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Environmental Working Group: https://www.ewg.org/
We hope these quick tips and tricks will help you make sense of all the health, fitness, and wellness information you hear and read. Armed with a bit of knowledge and a team of wellness professionals on your side, you can have confidence in the LEAN choices you make every day.
If you have questions or are unsure about the legitimacy of a website or health product, set up a FREE 30-minute consultation and we would be happy to help you sort out the information.
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