Health and Fitness: A World of Confusion
In an age
where, due to ever-expanding technological advancement and innovation, society
has become accustomed to and reliant upon –and perhaps, even enslaved by- a
world of instant access to anything and everything via the Internet, it has
become more important than ever to consider the profound implications of an
exponentially accelerating and inevitably overwhelming saturation of
information, both credible and fictitious. Indeed, the degree with which a
person is endlessly bombarded by volleys upon volleys of confusing, misleading,
conflicting, and even outright inaccurate information, has proven to be a major
contributing factor in almost every societal controversy and politically
polarized issue facing humanity today.
Although far less reported upon in mainstream media,
the health and fitness industry has been no exception. Whether one is looking
to lose weight, build muscle, improve energy, or support longevity, one can go
to Google, YouTube, or any other social media platform, and find thousands of
tips, articles, videos, and posts- and the majority of them will provide
completely different advice. Between influencers who feel the need to put on a
show for their audiences by displaying some unnecessarily complicated workout
that makes them appear like a “bad ass” and health supplement companies who
have less than minimal restrictions on the untested products brought to market,
how can anyone trust that the advice they are following will truly help them?
While little can be done
about the former, as there is no practical way to monitor the exercise tips
being circulated by usually uncertified fitness models, the latter is an
entirely different story. Currently, supplements on the market have almost no
regulation by a governing authority such as by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), who under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of
1994, has no authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and
effectiveness before they are marketed. Even more concerning, in many cases,
manufacturers can introduce supplements to the public without ever notifying
the FDA. As a result of this self-regulatory legislation, as long as a
supplement’s label states that “these statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration” and that “this product is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease,” a company has free reign to
produce and sell whatever substances it deems most marketable, regardless of
effectiveness or quality of scientific research. In the eyes of the FDA,
supplements are assumed to be safe for consumption until proven otherwise.
Consequently, this reality has led to scandals and retroactive efforts by
governmental entities, including a NYS Attorney General investigation into
major retailers such as Target, Walgreens, and other pharmacy integrated
companies for selling supplements that contained none of the ingredients listed
on their labels. Undoubtedly, the only wholistic solution to this conundrum facing
the health and fitness industry would be a reinvigoration of the FDA’s
authority to regulate such supplements.
However, until then, the public must rely on companies that have taken the reins of responsibility to produce high quality, science-backed supplements; and to prove as much, using credible and unbiased third-party testing and quality certification laboratories. Every supplement manufacturer faces this ethical issue, but some rise to the occasion far greater than others. IDLife, a health and wellness company that is revolutionizing the industry with DNA-based, customized nutrition, is one such company. Not only holding itself to the highest standards by ensuring duo third-party testing of all of its products, IDLife has worked to even address the perplexing aforementioned issue of information saturation, by providing a HIPPA compliant means for consumers to know exactly what supplements and types of exercise is just right for them.
Sources:
3 Tips to Help Deal With Conflicting Workout and Fitness Plans (menshealth.com)
Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements | FDA
New York Attorney General Targets Supplements at Major Retailers - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
This issue I've also found to be very frustrating. Having to do so much research into what I'm putting into my body from companies that market their products in just the right way. Do you think this industry purposely preys on the ignorant? Personally, I've never heard of IDLife, but initially hearing "DNA-based" is very intriguing and attention grabbing, but also sound like there will be privacy concerns.
ReplyDeleteYeah it is incredibly frustrating for anyone looking to better themselves and become healthier. With regard to your concerns about privacy, the DNA sample customers collect is sent directly to a HIPPA compliant laboratory. That means you have the same level of privacy you would have if you met with a medical doctor or went to the hospital. Further, as soon as your DNA results are generated, the lab destroys your sample.
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