The Risk of Following Fitness Influencers
Not all advice online is safe — here’s how to spot what puts your progress at risk
Fitness advice is now everywhere—on reels, podcasts, YouTube, and blog posts. But just because something is popular doesn’t make it helpful. And just because something sounds scientific doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
Influencers Are Not Coaches
Many influencers online aren’t coaches. They’re content creators. Their job is to get views, not to help you move safely or train smart. So they:
Create risky or flashy exercises to stand out
Demonstrate poor form without teaching cues
Sell meal plans or workout programmes without understanding the people buying them
This isn’t harmless. People copy these moves, try extreme diets, and push their bodies in ways that lead to injury, burnout, or shame.
Confidence Without Competence – The Dunning-Kruger Problem
Many of these creators fall into the Dunning-Kruger effect—they don’t know how much they don’t know. They build muscle, gain followers, and suddenly think they’re qualified to speak on hormones, pain, mental health, or rehab. This false confidence can be dangerous.
Real coaching requires humility. You need to know your limits, keep learning, and put safety before aesthetics.
But What About “Evidence-Based” Experts?
At the other end of the spectrum are people who constantly say: “The science says…”
But science isn’t black and white.
Who funded the research?
How big was the sample group?
Was it tested on people like you, or just elite athletes?
Does it apply to your lifestyle, training age, or injury history?
Citing studies without real-world experience can be just as unhelpful as influencer hype. Some “evidence-based” coaches forget that clients aren’t lab subjects. People need coaching, not just data.
Stop Putting Everyone in the Same Box
One-size-fits-all doesn’t work in the gym. You’re not a study. You’re a real person with your own background, habits, and body. Good coaching is flexible. It takes principles from science, filters them through experience, and adapts them to you.
Conclusion: Be Smart About Who You Trust
Blindly following influencers is risky. Blindly following science without context is narrow. Real coaching lives in the middle—where experience, education, and empathy meet.
Ask more questions. Don’t fall for viral trends or cold academic posts. Look for someone who listens, adapts, and guides with both skill and care.
Because in the end, it's not about who talks the loudest—it's about who helps you move better, feel stronger, and stay healthy for life.
