**TL;DR - The majority of fitness influencers are not qualified to give any tips or have any programs regarding fitness. Their programs are not based on Science and can be extremely damaging to their audiences. This opinion is using the example of cellulite** Many ‘fitness influencers’ on social media have not achieved any qualifications in order to have programs and give people advice on how to be fitter and achieve certain goals. Due to their lack of qualifications and the understanding of the science much of their information is wrong and is damaging to their audiences. Granted there are a couple who have built their fitness influencer status through a wholly science-based and researched approach and they have the qualifications to back this up for example Natacha Oceane and EIQ nutrition (also does an incredible podcast.) However these influencers have been a little less successful in building up a massive following due to their honesty that there is no get fit quick scheme as many other influencers are selling. I have seen many influencers spread damaging information on cellulite. Cellulite appears on the female body due to a boost of estrogen from puberty, is due to genes and other unexplained phenomena [2]. In terms of estrogen, the estrogen results in stubborn fat that settles around the fattiest parts of the female body i.e. the legs and the bum. Estrogen affects the vascular activity of the skin, as well as fat levels and collagen production, resulting in it having a significant contribution to the formation of cellulite.85% of female bodies have cellulite by the time they are 20 years old [1]. For many, myself included, cellulite first appears from a younger age such as 16. There is categorically no way you can get rid of cellulite whilst many have tried. There have been numerous scientific studies into cellulite and how to remove it to little success. Any medical procedures are short-term fixes [3]. Many fitness influencers claim to have the answers. ‘How to get rid of cellulite in these simple steps’. What the individual reading this post fails to realise is that the picture any influencer with a female body has taken is when the bum is stuck out, stretching the skin, and in a particular lighting that results in the invisibility of cellulite. This is damaging to people who are on their fitness journey as it sets completely false and unrealistic standards and pressure on their audiences. If a ‘fitness influencer’ is saying you can get rid of cellulite, they are essentially saying you shouldn’t have it. This old wives tale is completely misinformed. The fittest person in the world can have cellulite. Whilst in some cases fitness can reduce cellulite, in many it doesn’t. This can have negative effects on an individual such as a lack of self-confidence and promoting unhealthy eating and exercise habits in order to achieve a fabricated goal that isn’t achievable due to this misinformation. Resources [1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6232550/ [2]Drąg J, Goździalska A, Jaśkiewicz J. Udział hormonów płciowych w patofizjologii cellulitu. Wydział Zdrowia i Nauk Medycznych, Krakowska Akademia im. Krakow: Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego; 2013 [3]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25518090/

**TL;DR Many social media ‘Fitness Influencers’ are damaging their audiences through the inaccurate promotion of weight training.** Over recent years, in a period of increased social media fitness influencing, more and more people have taken to weight training. Undeniably, weight training is one of the best methods to improve strength and get into shape, however, it is incredibly important to be properly trained and introduced to it due to the risks involved. With more people taking up weight training through online influencers, fewer are spending time with a qualified trainer when starting out, instead they are picking up incorrect techniques and bad habits, which over time can lead to injury. In a [study by the University of Glasgow] (https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-04/eaft-ssc042919.php), they found that only 1 out of 9 influencers provided accurate and trustworthy information on weight loss and training. The influencers studied had over 80,000 followers on at least one platform, resulting in a large amount of people being fed the wrong information. Weight training puts a lot of stress on joints and muscles and for this reason it is incredibly important that it’s done right to avoid injury, however the inaccurate techniques and advice promoted by influencers is putting people at risk.