Unchecked social media may increase opportunities for misinformation to circulate, including popular exercise content found on Instagram and TikTok. Known as #fitspo or #fitsporation (sic) and created as fitness inspiration, this multi-million post trend has been associated with lowered mood states, increased body objectification, and extreme exercise outcomes. The FLICC Framework (Cook, 2019) has been used in research examining climate science denialism but has yet to be applied to exercise social media. Given the overlap between prior work examining #fitspo and the FLICC Framework criteria, we are exploring whether #fitsporation media may formally be classified as exercise misinformation.

Funded by: Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canda (Explore Grant) 

Viewing misinformation about exercise may influence thoughts and behaviours, yet it is largely unknown how people cognitively process exercise misinformation. The Misinformation Receptivity Framework (Zmigrod et al., 2023) offers a new way to examine how individuals think and respond to viewing misinformation. This project is aimed at overcoming exercise misinformation, and identifying the cognitive process through which exercise misinformation is accepted or rejected. Understanding how exercise misinformation may impact our related thoughts about exercise may provide exercise professionals and health promoters an opportunity to address damaging misinformation and improve health outcomes.

Funded by: MRU Health, Community & Education Internal Research Grant Fund

As many as 49% of Canadians are insufficiently active, increasing risk for all-cause mortaility including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Yet physical activity is associated with lowering risks for these and other chronic diseases, as well as improving health outcomes for all populations. Canadians face many barriers to becoming physically active such as time, access, skill, socio-econominc status, and age. Meanwhile, digital applications and tools (e.g., phone apps, smart watches) have become ubiquitous for promoting exercise but many of these tools are out of reach for high-risk populations. This project is testing and implementing a digital physical activity tool that will focus on increasing general and intermittent physical activity among individuals experiencing the highest barriers to physical activity, and those most at-risk for developing cancer and chronic disease. 

In Collaboration with: Alberta Health Services Provincial Population & Public Health

Funded by: partial funding was received from Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship

Healthy living social media influencers often promote nutrition: macros, organics, non-GMO, nutrition for disease management, weight loss and muscle gain. But how much of what they promote is rooted in scientific evidence? In this study, we are investigating the social media landscape to identify how nutrition is promoted, who is promoting it, and how much of what can be found online, is supported by science. We also aim to identify who these 'food-fluencers' are, what qualifies them to promote prescriptive nutrition, and whether they are offering sage advice or simply following trends. We are applying the FLICC framework, as we sort through fact from fiction. Findings from this work will provide context for the saturated world of food on social media, and what is helpful versus what is harmful. 

In Collaboration with: Dr. Robyn Madden, Health Community & Education