Honors Theses
The Rise of Nutrition Misinformation: Impact on the Credibility of Registered Dietitians in Practice
Date of Award
Spring 5-20-2025
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Nutrition and Hospitality Management
First Advisor
Melinda Valliant
Second Advisor
Ellen Ossorio
Third Advisor
Georgianna Mann
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
With the rise of social media usage, misinformation on health and nutrition has increased in the last decade. The consequences of this misinformation by social media users has been documented in research, although the effects of misinformation on registered dietitians (RDs) in the United States have not been extensively studied. This thesis examines how the credibility of RDs is affected by unregulated nutrition information and counseling on social media (e.g. by “wellness influencers") using a qualitative survey of twenty-seven RDs licensed and registered in the U.S. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods to determine recurring responses and themes among participants. Findings suggest that clients/patients seen by participants often take nutrition advice from social media, and 91% of respondents believe that non-credentialed nutrition specialists' advising discredits dietitians in practice to at least some extent. Participants also expressed frustration at the lack of consequence for spreading misinformation about health and nutrition on social media, and called for a higher utilization of RDs in public health spaces. These results present a clear need for increased accessibility of RDs in order to keep them credible to the public, as well as improved education on nutrition literacy. Further study is needed on potential interventions by the U.S. government to protect the credibility of RDs, effects of misinformation on RDs aside from decreased credibility. More quantitative studies are needed on the topic of misinformation and the credibility of RDs.
Recommended Citation
Owens, Sarah, "The Rise of Nutrition Misinformation: Impact on the Credibility of Registered Dietitians in Practice" (2025). Honors Theses. 3228.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3228
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