ONLINE influencers such as the Kardashians risk their followers’ health by giving rubbish medical advice, experts say.
Famous creators are often biased or just out to make money, they have found.
Their misinformation also damages patients’ trust in doctors who do not agree with what their patient has heard online.
Experts found Kim Kardashian, 45, had encouraged followers to get full-body MRI scans for a health check — even though it could lead to a harmful over-diagnosis or unnecessary treatment.
Meanwhile, sister Khloe, 41, recommended a prescription migraine medication.
Prof Raffael Heiss, of the Centre for Social and Health Innovation in Austria, wrote in the British Medical Journal that four factors swayed influencers’ advice — a lack of medical expertise or relevant knowledge, industry influence, entrepreneurial interests and personal biases.
“Such advice can cause psychological, physical, financial, and systemic harm,” he added.
It made it difficult to tell who was qualified to give an opinion.
This could make followers less likely to seek or take advice from doctors.
Dr David Scales, of Cornell University in the US, was not part of the study but said: “Clinicians witness this daily.
“Patients present with ideas shaped by online communities, from detox regimes and ‘natural’ cures to viral videos about birth and immunity.
“The task is not to argue but to rebuild shared understanding.”
The researchers called for governments and platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to crack down on bogus claims.
