The Time for Quiet Expertise is Over: Confronting Health Misinformation as a Health Professional

November 20, 2024  |  Written by Jessica Freeman

While you’ve been busy doing what you do best—transforming lives with nutrition or fitness, coaching clients through their lifestyle changes, and committing to a better future for public health—chaos has been brewing online.

It’s loud.
And it’s everywhere.

A flashy social media post promoting unproven supplements, an influencer dismissing chronic illnesses as “all in your head,” or policymakers downplaying the importance of public health policies.

And it’s drowning out voices like yours.

The spaces that should be filled with evidence-based expertise are instead overflowing with misinformation. And here’s what makes it worse: it’s working.

While the problem may feel unbelievably heavy, you have the power to help change it.

The public doesn’t just need you to be competent anymore. They need you to be visible. Every time you hesitate to speak up, someone else with zero qualifications—and often dangerous opinions—steps in.

This isn’t just an unfortunate trend; it’s becoming a public health crisis.

And let’s be clear about who pays the highest price for this misinformation: it’s our most vulnerable communities.

Marginalized groups and disabled individuals are disproportionately impacted when health misinformation goes unchecked. They’re often the targets of predatory “wellness” marketing, unproven protocols, and dangerous dismissals of their lived experiences.

Every piece of misinformation that spreads creates another barrier between these communities and the evidence-based care they deserve.

The Cost of Staying Small in the Fight Against Health Misinformation

I know you didn’t get into this field to build a personal brand or argue with trolls online.

You chose this work because you care about people. You wanted to educate, heal, and empower.

And frankly, you’ve already done the hard part.

Years of education. Thousands of dollars in certifications. Sleepless nights studying complex topics so you could guide others with precision and integrity.

But here’s the problem: the knowledge locked in your office, buried in your notes, or kept between you and a handful of clients?

It’s not enough anymore.

And I know—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s overwhelming to watch unqualified voices gain traction while evidence-based expertise stays in the shadows.

But, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Chronic conditions are skyrocketing. Public trust is wavering. Entire communities are making decisions based on myths instead of evidence. Marginalized communities who already face barriers to healthcare access are being targeted with dangerous alternatives to evidence-based treatment.

Your expertise is needed—not just in your business, but in the public square.

Why Bold Opinions Matter in Fighting Health Misinformation

Let’s address the elephant in the room: your fear.

Fear of being criticized.
Fear of putting yourself out there.
Fear of not being “enough.”

I get it. Putting yourself out there can feel scarier than trying a spin class after leg day. But here’s the thing—you’re already doing the hard part: being the expert. Now it’s just time to let the world know.

Your evidence-based opinions—about supplements, raw milk, chronic illness, and public health policy—are what the world needs.

You’ve worked hard to form them, and you have the evidence to back them up. So why are you hiding them?

This isn’t about becoming an influencer. It’s about building a platform—a system that amplifies your voice, positions you as a trusted expert, and ensures your knowledge outlasts every trend.

Every time you hesitate, someone less qualified fills the void.

Someone who doesn’t have your expertise, your commitment to evidence, or your integrity. You’re not just holding back your knowledge. You’re holding back your impact.

Build a Platform That Works For You

Building a platform isn’t just a way to grow your business—it’s a way to multiply your impact.

Imagine this: When someone Googles “how to manage diabetes,” they don’t find a random influencer with zero credentials. They find you. They find your expertise, your evidence-based guidance, and your resources.

Evergreen content works harder and longer than any social media post ever will.

• A blog post can work for you for years, bringing in clients and building trust.
• A professionally designed website communicates credibility before you even say a word.
• SEO ensures your expertise outranks misinformation when it matters most.

Stop thinking of yourself as just a practitioner. Think of yourself as a brand and a business. Your knowledge is your product, and every successful product needs visibility, trust, and a strategy to scale.

You have two options:

Option B: You take action. You build a platform that makes your expertise accessible to the people who need it most.

Option B empowers you to make an impact for years.

Making an Impact Against Health Misinformation

Here’s the good news: Truth creates ripples.

When you put evidence-based content into the world, it doesn’t just reach one person. It reaches their family, their friends, their community.

And the best part? You don’t have to do it all at once.

Start small:

• Write a blog post debunking a myth you hear every day.
• Share a client success story on your website.
• Host a workshop for your local community.

Build something evergreen—something that lasts. Because every ripple you create helps drown out the noise of misinformation.

Ready to build a platform that matches your impact?

→ Let’s discuss creating a website that positions you as the expert

→ Not ready to chat? Listen to my free audio training.