Social media trends about health: which ones can be applied and which ones are complete nonsense

Social media has been full of trending health-related topics over the past year. But which of them seemed to experts to be worthy of attention, and which should be skipped, reports CBS.

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A number of experts in nutrition, fitness, mental health and more shared what social media trends stood out to them this year, for both good and bad reasons.

The ones they approved focused on safe and affordable health supplements. While those on their blacklist focused on videos that lacked professional support or scientific information.

Cottage cheese: good

Hashtag #CottageCheese has gained attention this year, with over 1,3 billion views on TikTok, and the high-protein ingredient is approved by experts.

“In my opinion, cottage cheese is a favorite,” says Amanda Holzer, a registered dietitian in New Jersey. — For a long time, cottage cheese had a bad reputation. Many people are put off by its texture. However, cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein and can be very versatile. 50 grams of low-fat cottage cheese contains about 80 calories and 14 grams of protein.”

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TikTok users have definitely gotten creative and optimized its versatility, turning the dairy product into a must-have ingredient for recipes like cream cheese ice cream and cheesecake cookie dough, racking up tens of millions of views.

“In 2023, the FoodTok community added cottage cheese to popular sweet and savory dishes for a healthy, protein-rich taste,” TikTok wrote.

The addition of cottage cheese was even included in the app's "Year on TikTok 2023" list.

Cozy Cardio: Good

Hope Zuckerbrow - creator of "cozy cardio" on TikTok. "Cozy Cardio," a trend that focuses on a more mindful and relaxed approach to exercise, has garnered more than 15,9 million views on the app.

Maurit Summers, personal trainer and founder of Form Fitness Brooklyn, says the trend is great. She even creates her own version.
“People need to move, and if they do it from the comfort of their home, in cozy clothes and with the lights dimmed, then great! - she wrote. “Our lives are full of stress, and there's no reason that any form of fitness should feel that way, too—like going to the gym or exercising with bright lights and loud music.” Movement is movement, so any movement that makes you feel good is a good movement.”

Walking: good

2023 has become the year of rebranding walking with trends such as 12-3-30.

“12-3-30 is a trend that I think simplifies the idea of ​​getting your daily dose of exercise. It's so accessible because all it requires you to do is walk, says Dr. James Wantuck, co-founder and chief medical officer of PlushCare. “A 12% incline at 4,8 km (3 mph) per hour for 30 minutes on a treadmill is a great way to get your heart pumping.”

For some, 12-3-30 can be a pretty extreme experience, Summers says. She said some could benefit more from the trend by using a softer incline.

“The goal of a challenge should not only be to overcome it, but also to develop habits rather than feeling burnt out,” she says.

Another trend is the hot girl walk, another great option with little or no incline that encourages anyone to take time for physical and mental health through an accessible form of fitness.

“Our generation doesn't think walking, or at least didn't, is a very appropriate form of exercise,” said Mia Lind, creator of “hot girl walk.” “It can be very scary for some beginners, but walking is a very accessible form of exercise.” You can start at any fitness level and it's completely free."

Social networks as a replacement for therapy: bad

Experts say using social media as a substitute for a real therapist is not helpful.

“Mental health is important. Many people turn to social media psychologists for advice on how to manage their mental health. It's dangerous and ineffective, says Wantak. “To truly get the help you need, you should find a trusted, trained professional to help you.”

Self-diagnosis: bad

One more trend in the area of ​​mental health that concerns mental health experts are self-diagnosis and self-diagnosis videos posted online and lacking professional support.

While the self-diagnosis trend has been around for some time, Benjamin Goldman, a licensed mental health counselor, says he's seen the trend change further recently.

“What worries me most is the rise of videos where creators and users will self-diagnose their problems,” he says.

While the trend is intended to be humorous, Goldman says users often "blindly address their perceived mental illness and use broad diagnostic criteria to devalue the seriousness of mental illness."

Goldman says that without a professional approach, this trend can lead to misinformation about the disorder and its symptoms and even increase stigma.

“It makes these mental health diagnoses a joke that can discourage people from seeking treatment,” he says. “Using humor to discuss mental health can be useful in other social media contexts.” But there is a fine line between using humor as a form of psychoeducation and repeating the idea that you can simply “get rid of mental illness.”

Weight loss information: bad

False or misleading information is widespread on social media. This year, experts have particularly noted an increase in misinformation about weight loss, especially related to interest in drugs such as ozempic.

“All information about “natural ozempic” - aka berberine, an ineffective and potentially dangerous additive - is a lie. For example, exaggerated and fear-inducing side effects are “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic butt,” Wantak says. “To get reliable information and to learn about and possibly get a prescription for these medications, seek the advice of your doctor and do not trust most of what you see on TikTok.”

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