Whether it’s the latest diet fad on TikTok or an Instagram influencer sharing their tips on how to drop weight fast, it seems that everywhere you look there is unqualified people sharing ‘nutrition tips’.
But for fitness industry insider Alex Thomas, misinformation when it comes to your diet can not only be dangerous, it can be potentially deadly.
Alex Thomas is the Head of Sports Nutrition Association and has 15 years experience in fitness industry
The Head of Sports Nutrition Association, who has 15 years experience in the fitness industry, says that it is imperative to only seek advice from a registered nutrition professional and that you should ignore unqualified opinions.
Whether it’s restricting water intake to dehydrate your body in the hope of a leaner appearance, or avoiding a certain food group for a period of time, there are plenty of people branding themselves ‘Sports Nutritionists’ who don’t necessarily have the expertise.
Alex says: ‘Inappropriate disinformation and misinformation is probably one of the biggest issues in the Australian fitness industry right now. There is no law that protects the term Nutritionist – so anyone can call themselves one with little to no recourse. Unregistered and unqualified, or inappropriately registered or qualified ‘nutrition professionals’ are a real issue.’
Sports Nutrition Association is the professional body responsible for the regulation and standardisation of specific nutrition practices in the industry and Alex says he started the company because there were no standards in place for the practice of Sports Nutrition.
Whose advice are you following? Alex says it’s important to seek advice from registered Sports Nutritionists and check their qualifications
He explains: ‘There are so many people calling themselves Sports Nutritionists, regardless of qualifications. Some people who had only watched a YouTube lecture on nutrition or attended a one-day lecture were saying they were the same as someone who had completed a degree.
What this means, Alex says, is that those trying to get ahead in their fitness field can receive potentially harmful advice.
‘We are seeing fitness competitors and weight restricted athletes like jockeys and weightlifters, anyone who wants to get lean quick, subjecting themselves to dehydration protocols that not only do not work, but also have the potential when taken to the extreme, to cause serious harm.’
Dangerous practices: Alex says those trying to get ahead in their fitness field can receive potentially harmful advice including restricting water, which can do a lot of harm
And these measures aren’t just harmful but they have the potential to be deadly.
Alex explains: ‘Simply, dehydration kills. We need water to survive and ‘water-cutting’, or acute and rapid dehydration that people subject themselves is often times accompanied by other practices such as electrolyte and carbohydrate manipulation.’
‘In the short term when we dehydrate or hyper hydrate we can throw out our electrolyte balance and it’s very important to maintain this balance.’
‘If we throw it out too much by either cutting too much water, or cutting water and attempting to manipulate our electrolyte balance we can cause serious injury and damage to our kidneys and heart, and it can and does sometimes result in death. Even for those without an underlying heart condition.’
Dying to be fit? Some measures taken by fitness competitors have the potential to be deadly
So with so much confusion and misinformation out there who should you look to for nutritional advice?
Alex says: ‘In Australia I’d be looking for registration with either us at Sports Nutrition Association or the SDA (Sports Dietitians Association) or the DAA (the Dietitians Association of Australia) for health and medical related nutrition.’
Anyone looking to engage a Sports Nutritionist should ensure that the person claiming to have a certain qualification, does in fact have one.
Alex says there have been instances where people say they are registered with Sports Nutrition Association to clients, but in fact they’re not.
Listen to the pros: Alex says that there have been instances where people claim to be a member of Sports Nutrition Association, but they’re not
‘People claiming to be our members when they aren’t is a big problem, which is why we haven’t just trademarked the title, but have gone through the certification mark process with the ACCC.’
Real members of the Sports Nutrition Association are audited annually and receive and complete annual continuing professional development. Plus, members have access to insurance products which are accepted around the globe.
So what is Alex’s top tips when it comes to someone wanting to improve their diet?
‘For most people looking to get in better shape its the 2Ps, prioritise your Plants & Protein. Ensure at each main meal you have, and eat, two to three servings of plants, fruit and veg, and a really good palm-sized serve of protein,’ Alex says.
‘Do that consistently for a few months and then see where you’re at. Once you’ve nailed that and if you still want more, then contact one of our professional members and they’ll be able to create a bespoke personalised plan to get you to the next level.’
For more information about the Sports Nutrition Association or to find a Registered Sports Nutritionist click here.
