The trend: Healthcare professionals are worried that social media influence promotes unhealthy fad diets, per a new Sermo survey.

Digging into the data: Almost all (90%) of the more than 1,000 global healthcare professionals surveyed expressed concern about popular diet trends on social media. 

• Only 5% would recommend trendy high protein-focused diets.
• 4% say they would endorse intermittent fasting, and another 4% agree with keto diets.
• A vast majority (70%) recommend the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes lean protein, plant-based foods, and healthy fats.

Yes, but: Healthcare professionals say that it’s their responsibility to talk to patients about healthy nutrition, per Sermo. But many don't.

The main reasons doctors don’t talk to patients about nutrition:

• 38% pointed to time constraints for patient visits.
• 22% noted they lack the proper training to responsibly counsel patients about nutrition.
• Only one-third (32%) agreed they received excellent or good nutrition education in medical school. 
• 74% say they only occasionally or rarely learn about nutrition through continuing medical education (CME) programs.