In recent years, we’ve watched as countless influencers, health experts, and self-proclaimed “nutrition gurus” have shifted from veganism to vegetarianism to plant-based eating, leaving their followers confused and uncertain. It’s one thing to change your diet as you learn more about nutrition—that's part of being human. But when those in positions of authority, who once swore by a particular way of eating, move the goalposts, it raises an important question: Are we being used as guinea pigs? 

There’s nothing wrong with evolving your beliefs as new information becomes available. In fact, it’s a sign of growth. However, it becomes problematic when people who have spent years preaching the virtues of one specific diet, encouraging their followers to adopt the same, suddenly backtrack. What about the people they’ve influenced? What happens to the ones who have invested their time, health, and trust in these experts only to find that the "truth" they've been sold wasn’t so solid after all? 

This trend of dietary experts changing their minds mirrors the larger-scale shifts we've seen with government health advice. Remember the food pyramid? For decades, we were told this was the foundation of a healthy diet. And yet, the rise of diabetes, obesity, and a host of other health issues followed. Then, without much fanfare, the food pyramid was scrapped and replaced with MyPlate, almost as if the pyramid never existed, and its effects on people’s health were never questioned. The government moved the goalpost, too, but where was the accountability for the harm done?

The Responsibility of Influencers and Experts

If you’re someone on social media sharing your personal journey—maybe you’ve tried veganism, vegetarianism, or even the carnivore diet—that’s one thing. You’re offering your experiences, your truth, and leaving it open for people to take what resonates. But when you’re an expert, offering advice, or telling others what they should eat, the stakes are different. 

You bear the responsibility of the information you share. People trust you, follow you, and make significant changes to their lives based on your advice. They may spend money, alter their health regimens, and shift their entire outlook on food because of what you say. That’s a heavy burden to carry. 

So, when you shift from one dietary approach to another, shouldn’t you acknowledge the impact of that shift on those you’ve influenced? Moving the goalpost without accountability leaves people lost. When the health gurus of the world jump from one trend to another, it can feel like they’re playing a game of "trial and error"—but it’s not their health at stake. It’s the health of their followers, the people who look up to them for guidance.

A Call for Accountability and Transparency

As we learn more about the complexities of human health and nutrition, it’s inevitable that our understanding will change. But with that change comes a responsibility: transparency and accountability. Experts owe it to their followers to admit when they were wrong, to explain why they’ve changed their views, and to provide the necessary context for people to make informed decisions. 

In many ways, it’s similar to the government’s responsibility with the food pyramid. They never truly addressed the damage it caused to public health, quietly moving on to MyPlate without much acknowledgment. In doing so, they left a legacy of health issues in their wake—just as some of today’s dietary experts might do when they switch from vegan to plant-based without considering the impact on those who have followed them for years.

Stop Using People as Guinea Pigs

We’ve seen enough examples of people being used as guinea pigs—both by the government and by influencers. From the food pyramid to the latest fad diets, people deserve better. We deserve transparency, honesty, and accountability. It’s okay for experts to evolve their thinking, but they need to be upfront about why and how they’ve changed their views. 

For those of us trying to navigate the confusing world of nutrition, we need to rely on more than just the latest trend or the loudest voice in the room. Do your own research. Your health is too important to leave in the hands of someone who might change their mind tomorrow. And for the influencers and experts out there: if you’re going to tell people what to eat, if you’re going to build your career on guiding others, you owe it to them to be consistent, responsible, and honest. Don’t move the goalpost without explaining why.