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Fad Diets and TikTok Nutrition Influencers: 90% of Clinicians Are Concerned, Survey Says
Social media support for the Keto diet and raves about the next best dietary supplement worry HCPs; they also feel their own nutrition education is subpar.
Nearly all health care professionals (HPCs) responding to an international survey reported that they worry about the promotion of fad diets on social media, with 90% of 1041 physicians and advanced practice clinicians expressing concern about these trends.1 For example, despite significant social media hype on protein-driven diets, only 5% of HCPs surveyed recommend them as a top choice for most patients, while 70% endorse the Mediterranean diet as their primary recommendation. Sermo's 40th barometer survey was conducted June 6-7, 2025.1
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The findings reveal a substantial gap between evidence-based nutritional guidance and popular dietary trends. Behind the 5% of HCPs who support high-protein diets are just 4% who recommend intermittent fasting and another 4% who endorse keto diets, a healthy sign amidst the significant social media traction all 3 have achieved.
"The Mediterranean and DASH diets are recognized as gold standards for heart health, backed by robust science to lower heart disease risks and enhance overall wellness," Shashank Jain, MD, triple-board certified in cardiology, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, and internal medicine and Sermo Medical Advisory Board Member, said in a statement. "As a cardiologist, I explain to my patients that these diets emphasize nutrient-rich, heart-protective foods and have proven their effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular events and managing chronic conditions.
"Meanwhile, the fad diets that you see all over social media often lack this solid scientific foundation and can mislead patients. It's up to us...to cut through the noise and guide patients toward evidence-based dietary choices that truly support their health."
HCPs agree they have a responsibility to educate patients, but they point to a number of barriers that limit their ability to provide effective nutrition counseling. More than one-third (38%) say time constraints affect the freedom to counsel and 22% cite insufficient training in nutrition counseling as a primary obstacle.
Medical education appears inadequately equipped to prepare health care professionals for nutrition counseling responsibilities. Only 32% of the survey respondents report receiving excellent or good nutrition education during their formal training. The continuing medical education (CME) system compounds this problem, with 74% of providers reporting they only occasionally or rarely learn about nutritional guideline updates through CME programs.
"Meanwhile, the fad diets that you see all over social media often lack this solid scientific foundation and can mislead patients. It's up to us...to cut through the noise and guide patients toward evidence-based dietary choices that truly support their health."
"Nutrition plays a vital role not only in managing chronic diseases but also, perhaps more importantly, in preventative healthcare," Nat Fondell, MD, board-certified family medicine physician, medical director for La Clinica's Birch Grove Health Center and Sermo Medical Advisory Board Member, said in the Sermo statement. "With advancements in biometrics and AI-powered tools enabling a more personalized approach to medicine, the potential impact of nutrition has never been greater. However, unless healthcare providers receive comprehensive, up-to-date training in nutrition and are incentivized to integrate it into their practices, we risk missing critical opportunities to enhance patient outcomes and promote long-term wellness," Fondell warned.
Patients frequently raise the topic of dietary supplements during a clinic visit, with 84% of HCPs responding they always, often, or sometimes discuss their use in an appointment. When evaluating supplement safety and effectiveness, clinicians rely heavily on scientific evidence, with 67% consulting peer-reviewed clinical studies, 51% considering regulatory oversight, and 46% seeking guidance from medical associations. When they are unfamiliar with a supplement brand mentioned by a patient, 34% of HCPs turn to scientific literature first, while 32% consult product websites.
More Action on Food Safety
The Sermo Barometer 40 survey found that HCPs show strong support for enhanced food safety regulations. Among US clinicians, 86% strongly support adding cancer warning labels to alcoholic beverages as recommended by the US Surgeon General. Support extends to other safety measures, with 79% endorsing reducing consumption of processed foods and 78% supporting a complete ban on artificial food dyes.
HCPs also follow emerging food safety alerts, with 61% reporting extreme or very high levels of concern about microplastics in food and water supplies. A question on attitudes about raw milk consumption revealed 65% of HCPs believe safety issues are moderate to significant, although 68% report that patients rarely or never ask about raw milk in their practices.
The survey findings highlight a health care system where providers possess clear preferences for evidence-based nutritional approaches but face systemic challenges in education, training, and time allocation that may limit their effectiveness in countering nutrition misinformation prevalent on social media platforms.
