Sound Bites With Melissa Joy Dobbins

A new paper published in the Journal of Nutrition addresses mis- and disinformation in food science and nutrition and how this impacts practitioners and the public. The introduction and expansion of social media has created opportunities for credible health professionals but also challenges in that self-proclaimed experts use this platform to get attention, grow their brands and ultimately, spread mis- and disinformation. This episode sheds light on the attention economy, where stories, regardless of accuracy, vie for scarce online attention and discusses the importance of learned critical thinking, encouraging listeners to question information, overcome personal biases, and prioritize relationships during challenging conversations. The role of registered dietitians as trusted sources of nutrition information is emphasized and listeners are urged to seek clarity from professionals when encountering contradictory claims. The dynamic nature of science is highlighted, urging openness to new knowledge and questio