Finding Weight Loss Information Online
Evaluating Information About Healthy Eating Habits and Nutrition
Jun 25, 2009
Anyone can publish on the Internet, whether it's health and nutrition information or car reviews. A search for good nutrition facts on Google brings up more than 38 million hits, and it's a good bet that not all of those sites are trustworthy.
The first step in evaluating the relative value of information on a website is to look at the top level domain, or the part after the dot. The most common top level domains are .gov, .com, .edu, and .org.
Nutrition Information from the Government
Government websites are easily identified by the extension .gov. These sites often have the most up to date information provided by recognized experts in their fields. Unfortunately, government sites are not always designed with easy navigation in mind, and the casual information seeker can quickly become discouraged and frustrated.
University Sites
University sites are identified by their .edu extention. They often have the latest research, but it's not always presented in a way that makes sense to the lay person. University sites often house the results of scientific study that may or may not have been translated into something a non-scientist can read and appreciate.
That is not to say that universities don't make an effort to reach the general public. The Harvard School of Public Health maintains a site with information about nutrition, staying active, and even healthy recipes.
Commercial Weight Loss Sites
Commercial sites end with .com. Not every commercial site is actively selling something, but some are. Sites like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig may have good information, but it's important to remember that their ultimate goal is to sell something to the reader. By being aware of that, the savvy consumer can get the information she seeks while at the same time vetting the irrelevant.
Non-Profit Health Organizations
Good nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight are keys to good overall health and disease prevention, so many organizations devoted to specific conditions also have information pertaining to weight loss and nutrition. These sites can be identified by the .org extension, but be aware that there is no system in place to prevent commercial endeavours from using a .org extension.
Websites that Stand Out from the Weight Loss Info Crowd
There are many websites that provide good information for those wanting to lose weight, get healthy, or eat more nutritiously. Here are three personal favorites that combine solid information with tools for meal planning and developing healthy habits, as well as games to help teach children about good nutrition.
Nutrition.gov is a good starting point in a search for information about good nutrition. They cover subjects such as weight management, dietary supplements, and shopping, cooking and meal planning.
MyPyramid.gov goes into details about the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) dietary guidelines and has interactive tools to build a customized meal plan, develop a healthy menu, and keep track of food intake and exercise. It's not as slick as some commercial sites, but it's solid information and it's free.
NutritionData.com provides caloric and nutrient information for thousands of foods, including a wide variety of restaurant choices and name brand prepared foods. There is also a pantry feature one can use to build recipes and calculate their nutritional data. By substituting ingredients, it's easy to turn a high calorie favorite into a healthier meal.
Quick Tips for Evaluating Information Online
When evaluating any source of information on the Internet, there are a few things that can tip a reader off to the trustworthiness of the site.
- How old is the page? Things change quickly, so it's important to weigh the age of the information when deciding if it's valid. Most sites have a note about when they were last updated, typically near the bottom of the page. If the page is more than a year or two old, it would be wise to verify the information with another source.
- Who's behind it? It's easy to know who is behind a government or educational site, but anyone can buy a .com or .org domain name and publish anything they want. Look for hidden agendas before relying on information found on these sites.
- Is the article author qualified? Most heath articles on the Internet are not written by doctors, but the writer should at least be using qualified sources. Check for quotes by qualified individuals and links to scientific papers and research findings.
- Use more than one source. Even when information comes from a reliable site, it can't hurt to get a second opinion. Valid information will be verifiable. If only one site is reporting something, chances are good it's unreliable.
Finally, don't forget to use common sense. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. If the information seems sensational or hard to believe, verify with another source, preferably off line. As always, check with a doctor or medical professional before beginning any weight loss or fitness program.
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