Americans trust medical and university sites most for nutrition info

Jan 18–24, 2024 · n = 1,000 · MoE ±3.5%Source report ↗

Core finding

Nearly four-in-ten Americans (39%) say they trust hospital, medical, or university websites such as the Mayo Clinic or Healthline most for accurate information on nutrition, a Verasight survey of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted Jan. 18-24, 2024, finds.

Government sources like the USDA and CDC come next at 18%, ahead of fitness and weight-management websites (14%) and trusted friends, family, neighbors, or church groups (13%). Relatively few name news outlets or social media (8% each).

Topline distribution

Americans trust medical and university sites most for nutrition info.

Which source do you trust most to provide accurate information on nutrition? Choose one response.

Hospital, Medical, or University Websites – examples include Mayo Clinic, Healthline, Harvard Health
38.8%
Government sources - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
18.5%
Fitness, Health or Weight Management Websites – examples include Livestrong, My Fitness Pal, Men’s Health, Prevention, WeightWatchers, Noom
13.9%
Trusted friends, family, neighbors, or church groups
12.6%
News – including CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox, Google News, Yahoo News, newspapers
8.3%
Social media – including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube
8.0%

n = 1,000 · Jan 18–24, 2024 · MoE ±3.5%

ModeVerasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
PopulationUnited States adults
Field datesJan 18–24, 2024
Base (unweighted)1,000
Margin of error±3.5%
ModuleVerasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006
SponsorVerasight
Weight variableweight
Weighting targetsage, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

Sources

  1. 01

    Which source do you trust most to provide accurate information on nutrition? Choose one response.

    www.verasight.io/post/verasights-supports-academic-and-nonprofit-researchers

Cite this question

Verasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006, fielded January 18-24, 2024, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.5%.