My colleague Dr Laura Neville wrote this post this morning, and it perfectly describes what a lot of my patients (and family members, and friends!) have been bringing up in conversations around their own health and recommendations from “people who know things.”
Read on :)
INFOBESITY
This word really hits to the core for me. How about you?
It's very similar to eating "empty calories" - being overfed but undernourished
But this is about information rather than food, especially health info
It's like eating a donut - seems like a good idea at the time, but later leaves you feeling ill and searching for more to tame that hunger
When everyone online is an "expert" and they yell about the latest diet craze, the best supplement, the ONE THING that will fix you, it can start to feel overwhelming, frustrating, and just plain icky
It's when health info gets stuffed into your face, but it doesn't necessarily help you in any way
It's more and more info, without any action
Sometimes it's self driven, but most of the time it happens passively
Have you ever felt this?
I know I have. *burp
SO HOW DO WE PUT A STOP TO IT?
The tricky part is, it can be addicting to consume free information. I am certainly guilty of this at times - over-the-top home decor, natural health (and its haters), as charged
We cannot control what others do or say or write about, but we can create a filter and hold ourselves accountable
Create boundaries for yourself, especially when looking at online content
Does this person seem to have my best interest at heart?
Does this information help me or does it make me feel horrible?
Do you have a strong gut feeling after consumption - either good or bad?
Am I consuming this information mindlessly, or do I want to engage and support this?
Am I able to put this information into action for myself and is it helpful? Or is it just taking up space in my brain? If so, let it go
Tell me, does this resonate with you?
💕
Dr. Laura Neville