Fitspiration, Pseudo-Healthcare Professions, and the First Amendment by Katie Suleta and Emily Hemendinger

Recent court cases highlight the rise of pseudo-healthcare professions, where individuals without proper credentials claim First Amendment protections to operate in regulated medical fields. The wellness industry's growth, fueled by social media and distrust in traditional healthcare, has led to unqualified influencers dispensing health advice, raising concerns about misinformation, public safety, and the limits of free speech. Read this article and find accompanying references at: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/02/fitspiration-pseudo-healthcare-professions-and-the-first-amendment/ About the Authors: Katie Suleta, MPH, MSHI, is a trained epidemiologist and informaticist. She is a regional director of research in graduate medical education for HCA Healthcare. She writes for the American Council on Science and Health. *** Emily Hemendinger, LCSW, MPH, CPH, ACS, is a licensed clinical social worker, assistant professor with the Department of Psychiatry, and clinical director of the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Anxiety Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She has over ten years of clinical experience working with OCD, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. Hemendinger also has a background in behavioral and community health sciences, health education, and health promotion. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/subscribe/ Skeptical Inquirer Audio Edition is a production of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and the Center for Inquiry.