90% of Global Healthcare Providers Are Concerned About the Influence of Social Media in Promoting Fad Diets

June 30, 2025 at 09:00 AM EDT

Sermo Barometer 40 Examines Sentiments Across Supplements, Diets, Food Safety & Nutritional Training From 1,000+ Healthcare Providers

The 40th barometer from Sermo, a fast, frictionless HCP engagement platform providing the healthcare industry with real-time business insights and authentic physician touch points, of 1,000+ global healthcare providers (HCPs) found that the majority (90%) are concerned about the promotion of fad diets on social media. Despite all the recent social buzz about protein-driven diets, only 5% of HCPs recommend them as a top choice for most patients, with even fewer favoring other social media trendy diets, such as intermittent fasting (4%) and keto diets (4%). When asked what diet HCPs would recommend to most of their patients, 70% selected the Mediterranean Diet.

"The Mediterranean and DASH diets are recognized as gold standards for heart health, backed by robust science to lower heart disease risks and enhance overall wellness. As a cardiologist, I explain to my patients that these diets emphasize nutrient-rich, heart-protective foods and have proven their effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular events and managing chronic conditions," says Dr. Shashank Jain, triple-board certified in cardiology, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, and internal medicine and Sermo Medical Advisory Board Member. "Meanwhile, the fad diets that you see all over social media often lack this solid scientific foundation and can mislead patients. It's up to us as healthcare providers to cut through the noise and guide patients toward evidence-based dietary choices that truly support their health."

Shortcomings of Nutrition Training:

HCPs believe it is primarily the healthcare provider’s responsibility to educate patients about nutrition. However, many feel that time constraints (38%) and insufficient training in nutrition counseling (22%) are the most significant barriers to effectively implementing this.

Only a third (32%) of HCPs feel they had excellent or good nutrition education as part of their medical schooling. In addition, HCPs often feel that updates to nutritional guidelines are not adequately integrated into their continuing medical education (CME). In fact, 74% reported that they only occasionally or rarely learn about these updates through their CME programs.

"Nutrition plays a vital role not only in managing chronic diseases but also, perhaps more importantly, in preventative healthcare. With advancements in biometrics and AI-powered tools enabling a more personalized approach to medicine, the potential impact of nutrition has never been greater. However, unless healthcare providers receive comprehensive, up-to-date training in nutrition and are incentivized to integrate it into their practices, we risk missing critical opportunities to enhance patient outcomes and promote long-term wellness," explains Dr. Nat Fondell, board-certified family medicine physician, medical director for La Clinica’s Birch Grove Health Center and Sermo Medical Advisory Board Member.

Supplements are a Key Topic in Patient Interactions:

Supplements are a common topic in the exam room, with 84% of HCPs always, often or sometimes discussing their use with patients. When assessing the safety and effectiveness of supplements, providers rely on peer-reviewed clinical studies (67%), followed by regulatory oversight (51%) and guidance from medical associations (46%). This scientific scrutiny ensures that providers prioritize patient safety and efficacy in their recommendations.

When patients mention unfamiliar supplement brands, providers turn to trusted sources to learn more. Scientific literature is the first choice for 34% of HCPs, while 32% consult the product’s website.

HCPs Call for Action on Food Safety Risks:

HCPs support increasing food safety regulations due to their direct impact on public health. The Barometer found that HCPs are supportive of the following bans and warning labels across food and beverages:

Surgeon General’s Warning on Alcohol & Cancer: 86% of U.S. HCPs strongly support cancer warning labels being added to alcoholic beverages.
Consensus Supporting Cutting Back on Processed Foods: 79% of HCPs support reducing processed food consumption.
Colorful Additives Pose Serious Health Risks: 78% of HCPs support a full ban on all artificial food dyes.
Ringing Alarms About Microplastics: 61% of HCPs are extremely or very concerned about microplastics in the food and water supply.
Concerns About the Unpasteurized Milk: 65% of HCPs believe there are moderate to significant safety issues with consuming raw milk. Despite all the buzz about raw milk, 68% of HCPs report that patients in their practice rarely or never ask them about raw milk.

This survey was fielded from June 6th-7th, 2025 as the 40th edition of Sermo’s ongoing Barometer study. The survey included 1,041 global physicians across specialties, as well as advanced practice providers. To explore more findings, visit: https://app.sermo.com/barometer.

About Sermo:

Sermo is a fast, frictionless physician engagement platform providing the healthcare industry with real-time business insights and authentic physician touchpoints through our global community of 1M+ healthcare professionals and state-of-the-art technology. For over 20 years, Sermo has been turning physician experience, expertise, and observations into actionable insights that benefit pharmaceutical companies, healthcare partners, and the medical community at large. To learn more, visit www.sermo.com.