Back to Press Releases

SharecareNow Names the Top 10 Influencers of Online Nutrition Conversation

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries and oatmeal in bowls on a wood table

(Atlanta, GA and San Francisco, CA – March 26, 2011) – In an effort to help millions of Americans avoid the onset of life-threatening diseases such as obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer caused by poor nutrition, SharecareNow, powered by WCG, today announced “SharecareNow 10 – Nutrition,” a comprehensive list of the most influential online voices – ranging from healthcare professionals and journalists to celebrity chefs – who drive the conversation around nutrition. The list features some of the top names in nutrition today, including: Dr. Andrew Weil, a leader in integrative medicine; Jamie Oliver, television personality and founder of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution; and Michael Pollan, author of four New York Times bestsellers.

The release of the list corresponds with the close of National Nutrition Month®, sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) to raise awareness about the importance of making healthy food choices and adopting physical activity habits.

“Maintaining a balanced, daily nutrition plan is essential for a long, healthy life; however, as dietary recommendations frequently change, it may be difficult for most Americans to stay on top of the most accurate and up-to-date information,” said Jeff Arnold, chairman and CEO of Sharecare. “Our goal is to quickly connect individuals with experts online who can empower them to develop a personalized plan for themselves and their loves ones early in life to prevent a lifelong struggle with their weight, which can lead to the development of severe, deadly conditions.”

In the United States alone, 33.9 percent of adults aged 20 years and over are obese, while 34.4 percent of adults in the same age group are overweight1. However, these unhealthy habits can begin at an early age. In fact, approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents in the U.S. aged two to 19 are obese2, which can lead to health consequences in both the immediate and long term.

The SharecareNow 10 – Nutrition list aims to help reduce the increasing rates of unhealthy Americans, particularly for those living in specific U.S. cities with poor nutritional habits. According to RealAge – the leading consumer health assessment website centered around the groundbreaking RealAge Test® and recently acquired by Sharecare – the top five cities in the U.S. that are not eating the recommended 10 servings of fruits and vegetables are (1) Oklahoma City, OK (2) Louisville, KY (3) Knoxville, TN (4) Cincinnati, OH, and (5) Greenville, SC. Additionally, the top five cities that are not eating the proper amount of grains (at least 5 servings), includes: (1) Greenville, SC (2) Jacksonville, FL (3) Knoxville, TN (4) Memphis, TN, and (5) Greensboro, NC.

In order to be included in the SharecareNow 10 – Nutrition list, influencers must have demonstrated a consistent impact on nutrition-specific conversations online over the past year. An individual’s influence is measured and quantified through a proprietary algorithm based on more than 40 individual metrics, including nutrition relevance, syndication, presence and reach. These influencers are then ranked from most to least influential based on a unique scoring structure.

The following top influencers make up the SharecareNow 10 – Nutrition list:

  1. Andrew Weil, MD – http://www.drweil.com/
  2. Jamie Oliver – http://www.jamieoliver.com/
  3. Nanci Hellmich – http://yourlife.usatoday.com/
  4. Tara Parker-Pope – http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/
  5. Mitzi Dulan, RD – http://nutritionexpert.com/blog/
  6. Nicole German, RD – http://www.diet-blog.com/
  7. Lisa Lillien – http://www.hungry-girl.com/
  8. Rebecca Scritchfield, RD – http://rebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com/
  9. Michael Pollan – http://michaelpollan.com/
  10. William Davis, MD – http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/

A downloadable version of the SharecareNow 10 – Nutrition list can be found here: www.sharecare.com/static/sharecare-now-nutrition-top-ten-infographic. Additional information, including bios and the methodology behind the influencer list, is available at https://now.sharecare.com.

In support of raising awareness around healthy nutritional habits, @SharecareNow will host a Twitter Chat on Sunday, April 1st from 8-9pm EST. Participants must use #DietDbate to participate in the conversation, where nutritional experts will answer questions related to a healthy diet, including dieting facts vs. fiction and low carb vs. low fat diets.

About SharecareNow, powered by WCG

SharecareNow, powered by WCG was developed in partnership with Sharecare, an interactive social Q&A platform, and WCG, a market-leading digital communications agency. Sharecare Now, powered by WCG is an online platform developed to access real-time analytics on various health topics, conversations and influencers, and to use these insights to meaningfully impact the conversation through strategic engagement. The platform allows health and wellness professionals, organizations and brands to leverage the most accurate data, solutions and best practices to participate in the social service of expert health and wellness content and communities.

About Sharecare

Launched in 2010 and based in Atlanta, GA, Sharecare is an interactive, social Q & A platform that allows people to ask, learn and act upon questions of health and wellness. Created by Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz, in partnership with Harpo Studios, Remark Media (NASDAQ: MARK), Sony Pictures Television, and Discovery Communications, the company’s innovative approach provides the consumer access to a wide array of health and wellness experts ranging from hospitals to doctors, specialists to non-profits, to healthcare companies and active health consumers, creating a thriving community where healthcare knowledge is built, shared and put into practice.

About WCG

WCG is an independent, “next practice” strategic communications consulting firm that provides holistic solutions built upon clear analytics aimed at achieving competitive advantage for a growing spectrum of leading companies and organizations. WCG’s staff is an eclectic mix of experienced, diverse thinkers who partner with organizations in a wide array of industries to achieve product differentiation and competitiveness, reputational distinction, social credibility and organizational clarity. The firm operates from offices in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Austin, Los Angeles and London. For more information on WCG, please visit http://wcgworld.com or follow us on Twitter at @wcgworld.

Author:
Categories: