The World Wide Web of Misinformation

Does it feel like every ad on your device or television screen is for some magical weight loss pill or program? Ever try to search for answers to help you lose weight and get bogged down in all the "buy this" or "try that" advertising? Ever get lost down a rabbit hole about some fad diet or nutritional program, only to find that some praise it, while others tell you how bad it is? The amount of contradicting information I find on the World Wide Web is astounding.

Pressure to lose weight

Ever tell a friend you might want to try to lose weight, and suddenly you're bombarded with ads for certain diets, pills, or programs? Do you have friends on social media who try to sell you the next best nutritional supplement that will help you shed pounds? It seems like all the ads I see are about the next best thing to help me lose weight.

How does it make you feel to be barraged with so much stuff trying to tell you that you aren't perfect the way you are and that you need to lose weight? Does it make you feel bummed out? Does it make you feel pressured to look like everyone else? Does it make you feel like a failure for not being able to lose the weight already?

I know for me, it makes me feel pressured to be just like all the skinny people. It makes me feel useless because I've had such trouble losing weight. It almost makes me desperate enough to actually try whatever "miracle in a bottle" they are advertising. ALMOST. But before I click 'buy,' I usually come to my senses and realize that whatever product it is, it most likely won't help me lose weight.

The search for reliable weight loss information

When I Google "what is the best way to lose weight?" I see a ton of sponsored advertisements, along with dozens of pages that all promise to be the answer I'm looking for. It seems everything is created to make you feel like the page you just landed on has all the answers you need, without regard to your particular situation or medical issues.

That's not to say that some of the information available isn't valuable. If you dig around, you can find something that sounds legit. But then I wonder how outdated the information might be. A study on the health benefits of eggs from the 1990s might have been overturned by a new study that says they aren't that good for you. (I'm just using this as an example, I don't actually know if there are studies out there on eggs).

Then I struggle with all the links that contradict each other's information. One source might claim that the keto diet is the best, but another might argue that it's unsustainable. So, which do I believe?

You can't always trust what you read online

Then you have all the snake oil salesmen who want you to buy their supplements or programs. You'll become mesmerized by the before-and-after pictures of people who are supposedly using them, and you'll think, "Maybe if I invest all this money into it, it might actually work." But does it?

I see many people online now who are showing us that a lot of before-and-after pictures can be easily faked through airbrushing, lighting, and editing. So, then you sit and wonder if you'll ever find an answer that best fits you.

How to find the best answers

With so much conflicting weight loss information online, how do we discern what is correct and accurate? My best advice, dear reader, is to find something that you think might work for you and discuss it with your doctor. Most physicians will be able to tell you medically what may or may not work for you. Before making significant changes to your diet or trying an over-the-counter supplement, consult your doctor to ensure that your choice is the best course of action for you.

I know that it can be hard trying to find information. I promise, I suffer the same fate any time I try to Google as well. But if you're goal is to lose weight, the answer is out there. Please use your best judgment before making any changes.