SEEK OUT FITFLUENCERS WITH OFFICIAL CREDENTIALS
You’re best off following professionals who have formally trained in the field you are interested in, said Cedric Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise.
“You can’t rely on the number of likes that a person has or number of followers as being an indicator of the quality of their advice,” he said.
Instead, look for references to their credentials and experience, whether it’s a master’s degree or a coaching certificate. Be wary of fitfluencers who offer advice outside their expertise, Dr Bryant said, particularly regarding diet and nutrition.
“Even if a person has fitness credentials, if they don’t also have proper training in nutrition, I would tread carefully,” he said. “Make sure they’re staying in their lane.”
LOOK FOR INFLUENCERS WHO FEATURE A RANGE OF BODY TYPES, AGES AND ABILITIES
Fitness looks different for everyone, despite long-held cultural misconceptions about exercise and body shape and size. “Seeing a range of body types engaging in fitness activities is a key step in moving away from the stereotype that fitness is just for young, thin, completely able-bodied people,” Dr Engeln said.
The more our fitness feeds feature a diversity of bodies, the more we can expand our ideas about what we ourselves are capable of, she said, and “feel more comfortable trying new things.”
By Danielle Friedman © The New York Times Company
The article originally appeared in The New York Times.
