This is the first in a two-part series of articles on Best Practices for Internet Fitness and Health Advice. Given you are theoretically here seeking said advice, hopefully, you will find the information useful.
It’s kind of strange writing this article as I have an Internet health and fitness advice blog. But, there are some important things to consider even with the information you find here. Take, for example, my friend Eric. He has problems with anxiety, stress, and an overactive bladder. Thinking about it, it’s probably his overactive bladder which causes him the most stress and anxiety! He has not only used the “marvels of modern medicine” to control his problems; but, he has also availed himself of meditation, Tai Chi, acupuncture, and, maybe most importantly, a positive outlook. Taken together, these efforts have helped control his health problems most of the time.
Eric isn’t one for medication. He’s more of a “hard work” kind-of-guy who eschews medication’s side effects. He would rather take on more personal responsibility for his health and fitness than to simply get some benefit out of taking a pill. Eric believes medication CAN work. He simply believes in looking at all possible choices first before making decisions that could impact his fitness and health. He’s not afraid to commit to a course of action if he believes it will address areas of concern. That’s an option; but, it’s not for everyone. Thankfully, information abounds for options to address fitness and health problems we may all experience. But, not all information is created equal.
Health and Fitness Advice History
As you look back over time, as soon as man recognized his mortality, he began searching for ways to defeat it. Medical science at the time probably consisted of seeing the tribe medicine man or healer. Treatment might be harsh and uncomfortable. Time passed and, as man’s knowledge expanded in all areas, medical science was no different. Writing, the scientific method, identifying the Periodic Table of Elements, medical research, clinical trials, improved pharmaceuticals, town doctors, family doctors, hospitals, etc. have all contributed to making mankind’s lifespans longer than at any other time. Some data suggests the current generation may be the first in a long while whose way of life may result in an overall shorter lifespan than the previous generation.
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That’s not to say the current generation is satisfied with the situation. On the contrary, now more than ever, the airwaves and the inter-webs are filled with advertisements for quick and dirty solutions to improve skin, regrow hair, lose your belly fat, and increase your libido. There is a regular smorgasbord available for those that wish to indulge. And indulge they do. The health and fitness pharmaceutical industry is a $100 billion+ business and growing. It is buoyed greatly by the “supplements” industry which, unlike “drugs”, do not require clinical trials to prove their efficacy nor the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval to get to market.
See also: https://fitnessandhealthadvice.com/internet-fitness-and-health-advice-pt-2/
Couple supplements with medical devices supposedly designed to address some fitness and health issue and you can see why today’s need-it-right-now-without-work generation is enamored with them. You see, many can’t abide by the time to gather knowledge so they can spot the scams and protect themselves from wasting time and money on useless solutions. Still, emergency rooms continue to do a booming business. Aches and pains which previously may have been addressed with a home remedy are leading Millennials to the local hospital or Ready Med facility seeking help. They failed to pay attention when their parents and grandparents tried to impart the knowledge acquired over generations on these issues. No longer is there a handy issue of “The Home Physician” or similar book on their shelves or in a frequently opened cabinet. They don’t have the patience to consult such publications. They would rather waste half-a-day sitting in a waiting room full of snotty-nosed kids and jobless people with who-knows-what bugs coursing through their system. Thankfully, for Millennials (and the rest of us), there is a fast-paced alternative to their parent’s solutions. Enter the Internet.
Fitness and Health Advice Online
There is a literal cornucopia of fitness and health advice available online. Medical encyclopedias which are searchable and self-help advice and diagnostic websites usually offer the best advice (in my estimation). Always consider the source. Information from “BobsHomeRemedies.com” may not have as much fidelity and use as something from “MayoClinic.org”, for example. That’s not to say you can’t pluck the occasional gem from Bob. You can. Such advice may be free, but the old phrase “Caveat Emptor” or “Let the Buyer Beware” applies in force. If something seems too good (or strange) to be true, it probably is. Seek out other sources that promote the same thing as a solution to your problem. But, beware of confirmation bias. If Source “A” says a thing is good and works and cites Source “B” who says it is good because Source “A” likes it, you may want to turn and run.
One thing you must watch out for is people who internalize every affliction or health and fitness challenge to which they are exposed. These are people like Eric’s sister. She’s one of those Millennial’s who has her nose buried in her phone seemingly 24-hours a day. She thinks she has every affliction which comes across her feed. Everything advertised to improve one’s fitness and health becomes a “must-have” and her apartment is overflowing with “As Seen on TV” products she was convinced would get rid of cellulite, help her lose weight, get rid of the bags under her eyes, improve her sleeping, make her shapely without any effort, and so many more. If she went to doctors, they would most likely diagnose her as a hypochondriac or “a person who is overly anxious about their health”.
Most of us have multiple sources for our fitness and health advice. Whether that advice is handed down through our families or we glean it from the inter-webs, it’s a good idea to test that advice against common sense and its history before we decide to implement it. No one should want to end up like Eric’s sister with a domicile full of probable useless junk on which we’ve wasted our hard-earned money.
In part two of our series, we will examine the importance of our fitness and health mindset and how solutions from the past are receiving renewed interest, primarily due to the proliferation of social media solutions.
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It’s always better to personal take responsibility for ones health and fitness than to simply get some benefit from drugs or pills that at the end have side effects. This is lovely ,thanks for sharing
Indeed the internet has a lot of information in the medical/fitness area. But you need also to do extensive research. Not all found in the internet is true and effective.
You can find a lot of information in the internet. But some are not true you really need to verify it. Fake information is rampant in the internet.
This is a must-read for people. For me, it is always about comparing the advice I get online about my health and fitness with my common sense to take an informed decision.
I have come to understand that lots of information are out there but we should be smart enough to choose the right one. This is educative, thanks guys
I have come to understand that lots of information are out there but we should be smart enough to choose the right one. This is educative, thanks guys..
What an informative and entertaining read at the same time. As a millenial I must admit I am more like Eric’s sister but I will work on improving.
There exist tons of information in the internet today. It is our responsibility to ensure we are using trusted and legitimate sources.
The knowledge passed down by our parents and grandparents on common home remedies can be quite helpful. I’m lucky I listened to them and kept them in my memory.
You really hit the nail with this one. Millenials have become over dependent on their phones and believe everything they see in them.
The story you tell of Eric is very touching. He is such a relatable character. Thanks for sharing dear 🙂
I always take any bold claims I see on the internet with a grain of salt. A lot of the marketers out there are only out to make a quick buck.
The internet is another best teacher you can have. Its good we have Internet health and fitness advice blog. But, there are some important things to consider even with the information you find on the internet. The touching story of your friend Eric is enough as guide to us all.
The internet is another best teacher you can have. Its good we have Internet health and fitness advice blog. But, there are some important things to consider even with the information you find on the internet. The touching story of your friend Eric is enough as guide to us all..
There has been a huge paradigm shift in how people approach health and fitness in the wake of the internet. As with everything, there are both positive and negative aspects to it.
We should never wholly rely on the internet for our fitness and wellness information. There is a lot of fake news out there.
I am a bit of a traditionalist. I much prefer the knowledge passed down from my parents and grandparents as it has helped me a lot.
You would think that with the introduction of the internet things would be much easier. I actually feel like the internet has brought more problems in terms of misinformation.
As with everything, the internet can be as asset or a liability depending on how it is put to use. We therefore must ensure that we are getting our information especially regarding health from reputable sources.
Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
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