219 Leading with Science in the Fitness Community: Using Evidence-Based Nutrition Science to Combat Misinformation

Nutrition research is becoming increasingly difficult for the general public to navigate – not only because of the language of research but because of the depth and vastness of the information shared. The rate at which information is shared due to the media landscape makes it critical for fitness professionals to be prepared to address clients’ food and nutrition concerns. Fitness professionals are uniquely positioned to foster trust with clients by communicating correct scientific information. This session aims to provide fitness professionals with the right tools to be able to understand how to interpret nutrition science information, critically evaluate and identify credible sources of nutrition science information, evaluate health information shared via media outlets, and to accurately present the relevance of the information to their clients in the proper context. We will review real-world examples of how research has been translated into media headlines; credible and not, the impact misinformation can have on the public, and the importance of effectively communicating nutrition information.