Social Media's Health Crisis: Unqualified Influencers Peddling Dangerous Advice

Misinformation and unqualified health advice proliferate on social media, putting many at risk. A recent video by Estadão features nutritionist Desire Coelho, who warns against the dangers of unqualified health professionals offering potentially harmful advice online. She cites cases of patients receiving inappropriate supplement prescriptions, including one patient who, despite having normal lab results, was prescribed 29 different supplements. "The concerning part is that these professionals are often very emphatic on social media, creating a false sense of certainty," Coelho states. The video underscores the importance of verifying credentials and seeking advice from qualified medical professionals.