How celebrities can influence dietary choices in men

We have all seen the ads on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and all of the other social media outlets about how celebrities will do this "crazy" exercise and diet rotuine to get shredded for their new role in whatever project they are starring in. While the results and photos look amazing, we have to ask ourselves just how much of the photo has been edited through a filter and just how much is the advice they are trying to give is actually backed up by evidenced based research. Diet plans that usually have some sort of celebrity endorsement may look scientifically sound on the surface. Some of them may even sight a study or two to build their credibility. But many of them rely upon the credibility of the celebrity to sell it to the general public. Studies have found that food marketing featuring celebrities or influencers increases children’s food choices (Packer et al., 2022). 

But it's not surprising that celebrities hold a certain amount of influence over the decisions that people can make. We give them that type of control freely. In fact, marketing studies tell us that the more successful a celebrity is, the more credible people tend to believe they are (Hoffman & Tan, 2015). They are making money, so they have to be legit right? The diet plan they endorse has to work. Why else would it make money? At least we would want to believe that anyway. 

The social media platforms are inundated with diet misinformation, as well as much health misinformation in general. Anti-vaxxers and other health conspiracists alike know that to spread information far and wide, it is just a tweet or post away from going viral. The misinformation becomes that more damaging when people see that a celebrity has agreed with the sentiment. Public health officials must be more proactive in dispelling these fad diets through the use of hard data (Ramachandran et al., 2018) 

There are numerous studies that have examined the effect of influence that celebrities have over the dietary choices of children and women. But there are very few studies that have seen the effects of celebrity endorsement and its effect on men. Fortunately, this is beginning to change. Men can also fall under the sway of celebrity endorsements of diets. One study in particular found that the presence of a celebrity athlete endorser made weight loss advertisements more believable to consumers, even when ads contained obviously false claims (Pickett et al., 2023 )

While it may be natural to want to trust a celebrity, we have to be responsible for our own health. So what can men do to help make sure that the information they are receiving is based on evidence? Though it may seem pretty obvious, we should be getting our diet advice from registered dieticians and nutritionists, not sports athletes or movie actors that only endorse a diet or exercise plan. 

Now that we have decided to take control of our diet. Which one do we choose? Are we trying to bulk up or slim down? Do we have a heart condition? Are we a Type II Diabetic? A lot of these questions can seem daunting, but there are a number of verified resources on the Internet that we can utilize to help us meet our health goals.

For many people, diabetes can be a life altering diagnosis. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) was founded in 1940, with the mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes (diabetes.org, 2023). Through donations and volunteers, the ADA supports many people that live with Diabetes live meaningful lives. Their website has some of the most update information about diet and fitness advice that is peer-reviewed and supported by dieticians and clinicians alike. You can click the link above or here

1924 is the year that is recognized as the formal birth of the American Heart Association. It was founded by six doctors that believed that those suffering from heart disease did not have to be relegated to complete bed rest or even worse, death (heart.org, 2023) Since then, the American Heart Association has been at the frontlines tackling the many issues that come from cardiovascular disease. As times have changed, so has the information and technology that is available to help those that suffer with cardiovascular issues lead fulfilling lives. Much of the information that you can find at their site is also peer-reviewed and support by many cardiologist and nutritionists alike. There is ways to even begin exercising for better healthy. You can look at this and more at this link here: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating

One particular diet that has benefit for both cardiovascular health and diabetes is what is called the "Mediterranean Diet". It limits the amount of red meat consumed, but has great ways of making sure that you get plenty of vegetables, fruits, oils, and other nutrients for a balanced meal. Here is what one study found after studying the diet and its effects on Type II Diabetes:

                    " The Mediterranean diet adherence could play a role on T2D-related mechanisms, such as anti-inflammatory/antioxidant actions, glucagon-like peptide agonist compounds, and changes in gut microbiota. Overall, single actions from different nutrients and derivative metabolites could be enhanced by interactions and synergies that make the Mediterranean diet an invaluable tool in the primary and secondary prevention of diabetes." (Martín-Peláez et al., 2020)

Another diet that has shown beneficial results for both diabetics and those with cardiovascular issues is the DASH diet. The DASH diet is an acronym for dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH). It does not require any particular food group, or buying of supplements, or special products for it to work. We can still enjoy many of the foods that we know and love, within moderation. In one study, they found that the DASH diet proved to lower A1C and cholesterol levels (Azadbakht et al., 2010). 

More information about the DASH diet can be found here: DASH eating plan

However you decide to adjust your diet, talk to a registered dietician or registered nutritionist first. Many of the celebrity products that are endorsed are just products that have not been studied enough to make the bold claims that they do. As men age, it is important to consider the information that we take in from all sources, not just social media, not just what a friend told us. We have to be the captains of our health journey.