Dr Who?
Can you guess who offered the following health advice?
"I tend to try and do some fasting at the beginning of every week... I can then indulge myself in all the sugary treats I like for the rest of the week."
This well-known person elects not to eat anything for 36 hours at the start of every week, but can you name them?
ANSWER: Rishi Sunak
EXPLANATION
Ex-UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, shared this diet preference with the BBC in an interview where he also described his "weakness for sugary things".
However, Clare Thornton-Wood, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, said intermittent fasting "needs to go hand-in-hand with eating a healthy, balanced diet for the rest of the time".
Ms Thornton-Wood also said people should always get medical advice before trying intermittent fasting as it is not advisable for some groups.
Put garlic up your nose as a natural alternative to over-the-counter decongestant medication.
We're not surprised that this attention-grabbing advice went viral, but what communication channel did it come through?
ANSWER: TikTok
EXPLANATION
In 2024, a new trend emerged on TikTok where people began putting full cloves of raw garlic up their nostrils to aid the release mucus, claiming that it can help cold symptoms like congestion.
The trend was widely reported in the media, including by Which.co.uk, who spoke to Professor Carl Philpott, Head of the Rhinology and ENT research group, who said that placing garlic in the nose causes an irritant reaction and, rather than clearing mucus from the nose, simply creates more, quite possibly worsening congestion.
Professor Philpott also said that following the trend could cause itching, burning or even bleeding by damaging the mucus membrane in the nasal passage.
You can age better and delay the onset of disease by “having lots of exercise, having mental stimulation and a social network, eating a reasonably balanced diet (with) not too much high fat, sugar and salt, moderating alcohol, stopping smoking if you do – these are things which are old fashioned, but they still work.”
The person who said this has been a regular on our TV's, but do you know who it it is?
ANSWER: Chris Whitty, UK Chief Medical Officer
EXPLANATION
Chris Whitty's daily briefings through the Covid-19 pandemic made him a household name.
Still the UK’s most senior doctor, this advice on healthy ageing was published in his Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2023, which was widely reported in the media, including by The Independent.
“A teaspoon of ghee butter each day promotes weight loss, keeps the gut healthy, strengthens the immune system, hydrates skin, makes hair grow thick and nourishes the nervous system.”
It's hard to keep up with some fads, but can you guess who recommends this daily dose?
ANSWER: Khloé Kardashian
EXPLANATION
Khloé Kardashian offered this advice in a blog post that was widely reported on, including by the Mail Online.
But, speaking to the Huffington Post, registered dietitian Raman Khatar says you shouldn't be drinking a spoonful of it every morning and the British Nutrition Foundation points out that ghee is high in saturated fat, advising that it should be consumed in limited quantities to protect heart health.
“You can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, limiting sugar and refined carbohydrates, staying hydrated with water, quitting smoking, moderating alcohol consumption, managing stress, getting regular check-ups and sleeping well.”
There are a lot of suggestions here, but who made them?
ANSWER: ChatGPT, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot
EXPLANATION
The truth is we haven't met any of the others. This advice was the response we received from ChatGPT to the prompt: ‘How can I reduce my risk of type 2 diabetes?’
The advice may be in line with what you'd expect to find on reputable health websites, however, pharmacists at Long Island University in the US found that ChatGPT only provides a satisfactory respond to medical questions around 25% of the time.
In response, a spokesperson for OpenAI (creator of ChatGPT), said that the company guides ChatGPT to inform users that they “should not rely on its responses as a substitute for professional medical advice or traditional care.”
The spokesperson also shared a section of OpenAI’s usage policy with US-website CNBC, stating that the company’s “models are not fine-tuned to provide medical information” and that people should never use ChatGPT to provide diagnostic or treatment services for serious medical conditions.
Uh oh, you got {number correct} / 5 answers correct!
We're a little worried! If you can't tell your GP from your ChatGPT you could end up following some ineffective (or even dangerous) advice.
If you hear some health advice and are considering following it, don't forget to check it with a credible source like the NHS website or speak to a healthcare professional.
Congratulations, you got {number correct} / 5 answers correct!
Well done! You can tell your GP from your ChatGPT, suggesting you're good at dicphering the fact from the fiction when it comes to health advice. This is important, as incorrect health advice can be ineffective and, in some cases, even dangerous!
You can never be too careful though! If you hear some health advice and are considering following it, don't forget to check it with a credible source like the NHS website or speak to a healthcare professional.
