Last week, a friend sent me a video of an Egyptian doctor who became famous for his controversial diet advice that goes against what international experts have been advocating for years. The doctor who was trained as an anaesthesiologist became a self-acclaimed expert dietitian without having any formal training in the field. He called his dietary plan “altayybat”, using a name that is found in the Holy Quran to refer to "the good things”, which made many people believe in it because it uses religion indirectly to sell the idea to people. Even after his sudden death a few months ago, many people still follow his advice despite warnings from medical experts about the negative impact on health.
In recent years, social media platforms have evolved far beyond spaces for entertainment and news sharing. They have become one of the primary sources of health information for millions of people. While these platforms have undoubtedly contributed to raising public awareness about many health issues, they have also given rise to a worrying phenomenon, the spread of what might be called "digital prescriptions" in the form of health advice and treatment recommendations that circulate rapidly online without scientific evidence or professional medical oversight.
The danger intensifies when such advice is presented using a mixture of medical terminology and religious or moral language, giving it an unwarranted sense of credibility. As a result, some individuals discontinue prescribed medications, modify their treatment plans, or adopt highly restrictive diets based solely on recommendations from anonymous or unqualified online sources.
Health authorities in several Arab countries have reported cases of serious complications after patients with chronic illnesses, particularly diabetes, stopped taking their prescribed medications in favour of advice promoted on social media. These incidents have prompted repeated warnings from official health agencies against relying on online "prescriptions" as substitutes for evidence-based medical care.
Scientific evidence tells us that eliminating entire food groups without medical justification can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Avoiding dairy products, for example, may reduce calcium intake, an essential nutrient for maintaining bone health in many individuals. Likewise, reducing the consumption of whole grains may deprive the body of dietary fibre, which plays an important role in digestive health and in reducing the risk of several chronic diseases.
The problem extends beyond the content itself to the way digital platforms operate. Social media algorithms reward content that is emotionally engaging, provocative, or controversial rather than content that is scientifically accurate. Consequently, simplistic and absolute health claims often spread much faster than nuanced medical explanations that acknowledge uncertainty and individual differences.
From a psychological perspective, people are naturally drawn to simple, quick solutions, especially when dealing with chronic illness, weight loss, or disease prevention. Repeated exposure to the same messages across multiple platforms also creates the illusion of truth, making unsupported claims seem increasingly credible simply because they are frequently encountered.
This does not mean that social media has no place in health education. On the contrary, it can be a powerful tool for improving public health literacy when used responsibly. However, health information should always be grounded in robust scientific evidence, and health influencers should be viewed as communicators, not substitutes for physicians, dietitians, or other qualified healthcare professionals.
In my opinion, the best prescription is not the one that goes viral or attracts millions of views. It is the one supported by sound scientific evidence, tailored to individual needs, and delivered under appropriate professional guidance.
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