81. The Problem with Celebrity Diet Advice

Where do you get your advice from?

This podcast episode was inspired by a Reel from Bethenny Frankel, a former star of The Real Housewives of New York. The Reel starts with Bethenny saying she doesn’t exercise, she doesn’t work out, and touching on a number of topics—but what we really want to discuss is who should and shouldn’t be giving advice, and who you should be listening to when it comes to your health.

Bethany has 2.8 million followers on her Instagram, which means that the advice she gives has reach. There is some truth to what she says, but it’s interspersed with a lot of advice that’s dangerous. We’re also not fans of “do what I do” advice, because not only is it impossible to verify they do what they say they do but not every piece of advice is going to work the same for everyone.

Telling people not to exercise is fraught. We mentioned in the protein episode that we lose muscle with age. In perimenopause and menopause, there’s a rapid decline in muscle. This not only has metabolic effects, but it also has consequences when it comes to longevity. Muscle mass at midlife is correlated to all-cause mortality, so this goes well beyond vanity.

Cardio matters too. It’s one of the best tools to fight against Alzheimer’s.

Bethenny also mocks people who may not have their relationship to eating and exercise figured out. She makes fun of people who feel the need to work out when they overeat. While we believe exercise should be regular and your diet, we’re all still trying to figure things out.

When you see someone giving what seems to be poor advice, no matter how famous they are, feel free to push back. Leave a comment and add to the discussion. And know your family history and risk. Everyone’s health is going to be different, so what works for some won’t work for others. Take care of yourself, and take advice with a grain of salt.

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