Public advised: Check before sharing health info online

DAVAO CITY—Before you click and share information on social media regarding the touted benefits of certain health products, which you might believe to be true, do extensive research—including reading medical journals and research papers. Do not just believe word of mouth or claims without factual bases. Ask experts on the matter.

These were among the pieces of advice that the country’s largest accredited organization of healthcare professionals in the nutrition and dietetics fields, the Nutritionist-Dietitians’ Association of the Philippines (NDAP), relayed to the public in its effort to combat misinformation and fake news on health-related products.

Beware of false claims

“These include weight loss products, vitamins and minerals,” NDAP president Zenaida Velasco told the Inquirer on the sidelines of its 63rd annual conference held at SMX Lanang Premier Convention Center in this city.

Velasco said some 1,000 healthcare professionals and nutritionists had converged here for the Feb. 21-24 conference to discuss, among other issues, ways of combating misinformation on some health products, including on social media.

NDAP vice president Eloisa Villaraza said one of the ways they could fight false and misleading online content was by spreading “truthful, science-backed, published information on health, wellness and nutrition” with the use of digital technology. NDAP has activated an official page on Facebook and a website on which members can interact, discuss and be reliably updated on the
latest in nutrition and dietetics.

Engaging the market

NDAP is also offering seminars, to which experts would be invited, in the provinces.

Velasco said that for this year’s conference, at least seven foreign experts discussed various issues that shape the health and wellness industry.

With the theme “Road to Excellence: Bringing Education and Nutrition Together,” the conference reinforced NDAP’s bid to disseminate factual and reliable information on health and wellness.

The conference was aimed at engaging registered nutritionist-dietitians nationwide, including those in private and Department of Health-assisted hospitals, the food service industry, academe, hotels and restaurants, various government offices involved in nutrition research and food regulation, and drug companies. —ALLAN NAWAL AND JUDY QUIROS