How Do Nutritionists/Dietitians Use Social Media to Communicate with Their Public? Global Perspectives on Social Media Practices: A Systematic Review

Background: Social media has emerged as a powerful communication tool for healthcare professionals, including nutritionists and dietitians, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence suggests that their online presence can enhance nutritional literacy and play a crucial role in countering misinformation. Objective: This systematic review aims to investigate how and why Registered Nutritionists and Dietitians (RNDs) use social media in their professional practice, focusing on benefits, challenges, and impact. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted between 1 January 2019 and 28 February 2024, in PubMed, Scopus, Scholar, and SciELO databases using terms such as ‘nutritionist’, ‘dietitian’, and ‘social media’. Quality was assessed using the MMAT tool. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The included studies were analysed with respect to their content, professional practices, and patterns of social media use. Results: Of the 359 articles identified through the systematic search, 10 cross-sectional studies conducted using questionnaires were included in this review. Sample sizes ranged from 10 to 2542 participants across nine countries. Instagram and Twitter were the most frequently used platforms among RDNs, primarily for sharing evidence-based nutritional information, counselling content, and professional promotion. Reported usage ranged from 37.5% to 100%, with a marked increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among younger professionals. Key enablers included enhanced communication, professional visibility, and cost-effective outreach, while main challenges involved limited digital literacy and difficulties replicating face-to-face counselling online. Although ethical concerns were reported, many RNDs maintained compliance with professional standards, particularly in regions with strict marketing regulations. Conclusions: This systematic review provides evidence that social media is a valuable tool for RNDs, particularly in the context of food and/or nutritional education. RNDs would benefit from training in content creation, knowledge dissemination and ethical digital communication. However, clearer guidelines from professional organisations are also recommended.