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Kaplan AM, Haenlein M. Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media. Bus Horizons. 2010; 53(1): 59-68.

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Article

Are Nutrition Blogs a Trustworthy Source? Author Education, Evidence-Based Writing, and Types of Diets

1Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA


Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2023, Vol. 11 No. 4, 277-285
DOI: 10.12691/jfnr-11-4-1
Copyright © 2023 Science and Education Publishing

Cite this paper:
Erfan Khazaee, Jeanne H. Freeland-Graves. Are Nutrition Blogs a Trustworthy Source? Author Education, Evidence-Based Writing, and Types of Diets. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2023; 11(4):277-285. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-11-4-1.

Correspondence to: Erfan  Khazaee, Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. Email: ekhazaee@utexas.edu

Abstract

Background: The internet is a major source for nutrition information and nutrition blogs are a popular format for information dissemination. However, the quality of these websites and diets discussed is unclear. Objective: To investigate relationships of evidence-based writing practice with nutrition blog type and author education, identify diets discussed, and examine relationships of social media following, according to blog type and author education. Methods: A purposive-snowball sampling approach was utilized to locate nutrition blogs. Inclusion criteria for blogs (n = 500) were: active website, focused on nutrition/food, written in English, and free access. Outcome measures were evidence-based writing (inclusion of references to support posts), blog type, author education, diet types discussed, and number of social media followers. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and negative binomial regression were utilized. Results: Author education included: 219 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), 175 none listed, 71 bachelor’s degrees, and 35 graduate degrees. The majority of independent blogs (~57%) and those from government/food commodity organizations (~71%) practiced evidence-based writing, while ~60% of blogs from food/nutrition companies did not (P<0.05). The majority of bloggers with RDN (77%) and graduate degrees (72%) exhibited evidence-based writing; while 65% of those with bachelor’s degrees and 82% of those with no education listed did not (P<0.001). Twenty-nine types of diet were identified; plant-based was the most frequently discussed (76 blogs), followed by ketogenic (62) and detox (61). RDN authors had 2 times more followers on Instagram and Facebook and 5 times more on Twitter, as compared to authors with no education listed (P<0.001). Conclusions: Bloggers with RDNs and graduate degrees were more likely to practice evidence-based writing. Websites with RDN authors had the highest social media following. The most popular diets discussed were plant-based, ketogenic, and detox. Future studies should assess credibility of the information published.

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