For diet advice, doctors are the first stop
Core finding
Doctors tower over every other messenger on diet advice: about three-quarters of Americans (74%) would be most inclined to listen to a doctor about whether to start or stop eating something, according to a May 2026 Verasight survey.
Scientists are the only other source in double digits (15%). Religious leaders (5%), celebrities or social-media influencers (3%), academic content creators (2%), and elected officials and journalists (1% each) trail far behind.
Topline distribution
For diet advice, doctors are the first stop.
If one of these entities recommended you start or stop eating something, who would you be the most inclined to listen to?
n = 1,000 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | daily_life |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
If one of these entities recommended you start or stop eating something, who would you be the most inclined to listen to?
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.