Conflicting healthy eating advice leaving public ‘clueless’, poll suggests

Vast majority of regular exercisers do not know if food they eat is doing them any good

Forty-four per cent of people regularly get nutritional information from internet searches, which can provide unsubstantiated claims. (Shutterstock)

Mixed messages over “healthy” diets are causing “significant” confusion among UK fitness fanatics, according to a study.

Conflicting expert reports over what is right and wrong means the vast majority of regular exercisers do not know if the food they eat is really doing them any good.

Eight in 10 admit they are “clueless” over the nutritional benefits of different food types – and have no idea what they should be consuming in order to bulk up or slim down.

Seventy-two per cent of the 2,000 regular exercisers polled believe misleading food adverts are partly to blame for a lack of understanding over what is or isn’t healthy.

But this doesn’t tell the whole story – 44 per cent regularly get nutritional information from internet searches which can provide unsubstantiated claims.

While a quarter believe internet influencers are a reliable source for healthy eating advice – even though they may not have any medical background whatsoever.

Commissioned by Optimum Nutrition, the study found just 15 per cent utilise peer-reviewed studies and books.

And fewer than one in 10 tend to seek advice from a personal trainer (PT) – however, 30 per cent would consider doing so in the future.

The research also found around one in 10 actively rely on influencers on social media for their healthy lifestyle advice – despite them potentially issuing inaccurate information.

One in seven have even purchased a “nutrition product” after seeing it advertised by an online influencer even though they didn’t know if the item had proven benefits.

Carried out through OnePoll, the study also found a lack of understanding over what is good for you could also be dangerous when it comes to working out.

Typically those polled spend four hours a week exercising and two fifths have experienced lightheadedness, shakiness or dizziness during a workout.

Of those who have suffered these symptoms, half believe they did not eat or drink enough – and nearly a fifth fear they ate the wrong things.

While a third said they do not know how soon to eat before or after exercise.

The study also found just a fifth are very confident they understand the benefits of protein when exercising.

And the same proportion feel similarly about the rewards of carbohydrates.

Although there is confusion over nutrition, nine in 10 are clear that what you eat is as important as exercise.

Seven in 10 believe it is not just regular exercisers who are confused when it comes to nutrition – they believe consumers are puzzled by what’s “good” and “bad” too.

SWNS