Social media timelines are taking a turn toward health-related content, making a significant impact in media as people become more interested in health and wellness.
The coronavirus pandemic sparked the change of spreading health information through social media platforms. Since then, sharing health content through these platforms has skyrocketed.
“We’re at an all time high,” Christy Alexon, a clinical professor of nutrition, said. “People are more interested than ever in nutrition and dietary supplements.”
Demand for wellness products is increasing as social media platforms enter a new era of health consciousness. Dietary supplements, in particular, are being advertised on the platforms more frequently.
Dietary supplements, what are they?
There are a wide variety of dietary supplements on the market for consumers to choose from. Vitamins, minerals, herbs and more are the types of supplements offered to consumers depending on their needs.
Dietary supplements have a range of functions depending on what a person is looking for, Christina Barth, an assistant teach professor said. They can be used to correct micronutrient deficiencies, optimize current vitamin and mineral status, and pick up where diets lack, she said.
ASU campus stores have an assortment of wellness patches, workout supplements and vitamins offered to students. Improvements in sleep quality, focus and energy are some potential benefits of the supplements sold.
Alexon said it is important for consumers seeking beneficial results from supplements do their own research on products before purchasing them.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness, or to approve their labeling before they are sold to the public.
“I’m a registered dietician and I will still go and look up ingredients and supplements and think ‘What scientific research has been done?'” Alexon said.
Checking that dietary supplements have been tested by a third-party company is a way to verify their ingredients. The U.S. Pharmacopeia is a company that does tests on the purity and potency of over-the-counter supplements.
“There are so many different brands out there, and there are some brands where, if you read the ingredients list, you’ll find artificial dyes and fillers,” Barth said.
The boom of supplements in media
2020 turned a new leaf for the spread of health information through social media as health professionals and influencers alike used their platforms to share information about the pandemic.
Social media has gained an advantage over other media outlets with its ability to disseminate information quickly and widely, according to a 2021 study by the National Library of Medicine.
“Eight in 10 internet users search for health information online and 74% of those people use social media to do so,” according to an article from USP.
Over time, health-related content has switched gears toward a more promotional approach of overall health consciousness. Health companies are starting to use different platforms as a means of marketing through sponsorships and paid advertisement.
“I’ve definitely seen an increase in the amount of gym bros and gym TikTok oriented pages that have been sponsored,” Macklin Keller, a sophomore studying finance and supply chain management, said. “They are the perfect spokesperson because they already have that demographic for the marketing team.”
The rise of sponsored content on third-party online shopping platforms like TikTok Shop and Amazon has made consumers more comfortable taking recommendations from influencers, which can be misleading, according to a USP article.
@skydoesfitness Do You Need Creatine? Nope Does It Help? Yup What Form Of Creatine Is Best? Creatine Monohydrate If It Causes Water Retention Will I See In Increase In Weight? Yup, a few pound increase is normal.. Shout Out @jamessmithpt For His WaterBottle Creatine Intro. #creatine ♬ original sound – SkyDoesFitness
Keller said supplements are not marketed as a need but rather as a trend.
“The main thing with creatine was that it was easy to take, and it was like this huge health benefit,” Keller said. “And then these companies would use these gym bros to sort of market it.”
With so many people looking to social media for health and wellness advice, it can be a slippery slope deciding whether purchasing what is being advertised as a necessity or if they are purchasing items impulsively.
There are aspects of hyper consumption in this industry, Keller said. Most people do not actually need these supplements but because influencers are advertising them, consumers feel inclined to buy them to achieve a certain look or health goal.
Food vs. supplements
The school year is a busy time for students and low-nutritional food options are oftentimes more convenient for their day-to-day life.
READ MORE: Dorm Eatery: nutritional advice for students
While supplements can be helpful for students wanting to pick up the slack from their diet, nutrients from food is the most natural form of vitamins and and minerals and should be chosen before supplements, Barth said.
Simply being aware of the nutritional value in meals is a step to take toward nutritional awareness. Alexon uses the plate method to evaluate the quality of her meals.
When using the plate method, meals are seen as a pie chart. 50% of the plate should consist of non-starchy vegetables, 25% should be lean protein and the other 25% should be healthy carbs, according to Alexon.
“The reality is that there are definitely some situations where supplements are beneficial, but the health transformation that a lot of people are looking for is not found in a supplement,” Alexon said.
Edited by Natalia Rodriguez, Senna James and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at dbell39@asu.edu.
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Dhemi BellCommunity Reporter
Dhemi Bell is a reporter on the Community and Culture desk at The State Press. She is a second-year at Arizona State University. This is her first semester with The State Press.
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