As health and wellness started gaining importance in our life, people soon started recognizing the value of nutrition and good eating in any disease management. This changing scenario, gave rise to a lot of unqualified dieticians preying on vulnerable individuals with the promise of shortcut treatments. These people will offer ‘solutions’ on any popular health condition starting from obesity to PCOS. It is a disheartening reality that the field of such self proclaimed experts is getting bigger and darker day-by-day. A lot of health misinformation that we find on social media today, comes from this set of people.
The predatory practices of unqualified dieticians profiting off the hopes and vulnerabilities of individuals seeking weight loss and PCOS management must be exposed and condemned. By shedding light on this issue, demanding stricter regulations, and promoting public awareness, we can protect those in need of genuine guidance and prevent further financial and emotional exploitation. It is imperative to empower individuals with accurate information, encourage them to seek the assistance of qualified professionals, and ensure that the healthcare industry maintains the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
How do unqualified dietitians work?
In order to understand the whole scenario, we need to dig deeper into how unscrupulous practitioners are taking advantage of people’s desires for a healthier life. With promises of quick fixes and miraculous results, these unqualified dieticians exploit the trust placed in them, ultimately leaving a trail of shattered dreams and financial losses.
a)Exploitative Tactics and False Promises of
quick-fix:
Unqualified dieticians often employ manipulative tactics to lure unsuspecting individuals. They capitalise on the emotional vulnerability of those struggling with a particular health condition and promise magical solutions and swift results that are too good to be true.
By leveraging false claims and pseudoscience, these practitioners instil hope, only to exploit the desperation of their clients.
Financial Exploitation and Misguided Advice:
One of the most devastating aspects of this issue is the financial exploitation that occurs. People are being trapped to get in shape or to achieve ‘THE PERFECT BODY’. Unqualified dieticians charge exorbitant fees for their services. Through unauthorised programs, costly supplements, and unnecessary tests, they drain the financial resources
of their clients without delivering tangible results. Furthermore, their misguided and uninformed advice can potentially harm the health of those seeking help.
Lack of Proper Credentials and Expertise:
Most of these unqualified dietitians will never mention their educational credentials in their videos or reels. Instead, they will try to impress you by their persona or their affiliations. Once you have developed a trust on the basis of how they speak or who they have worked with, it becomes very easy for them to push any unscientific advice they want you to believe. .
What can you do to stay safe from misinformation peddled by unqualified dietitians?
Ask for educational
background
If you are enrolling for any course that comes with the promise of solving your health condition, ask for qualification of the trainer. Find out if the person at least comes with a Bachelors’ degree in Dietetics, Food and Nutrition, or a related field from a recognized institution. The Indian Govt is now working towards making it mandatory for health influencers to display their qualifications. So, you have the full right to ask for the same too.
Do not be swayed by celebrities they claim to have treated
Celebrities often have a team of experts assisting them and treating them. “How they look” is not controlled by the magic wand of one nutritionist. So, please do not fall for the term “celebrity nutritionist”. Believe in science, not promotion.
Do not stop consulting your doctor
Some diseases require medicines, food alone won’t cure you. Some diseases can only be managed, cannot be cured completely. Some treatments are linked to some other health condition that you may have. Understanding these basics of health and life will be much easier. Most of the time, we fail to educate ourselves on a particular health condition that we may have and jump into finding the expert who promises to cure us in the shortest possible time. That is the start of all problems. Educate yourself on health matters so that you can have better conversation with your caregivers.
The author is a Certified Nutritionist and Medical Content Analyst with The Healthy Indian Project (THIP)