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Nick Tiller, Ph.D.

@nbtiller.bsky.social
1.6K followers 43 following 194 posts

Exercise scientist & author. New book, The Health and Wellness Lie. Writing/speaking on health, evidence, and scientific skepticism.

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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
ChatGPT Health launched recently to little fanfare. But what is this new platform, and how does it change the way we use AI chatbots for health advice? Read the article: ➡️https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/physiologic/202609/chatgpt-health-solution-or-experiment #Health #AI #ChatGPT
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
TOP TRUMPS: Wellness Influencer Edition. Kick off the deck with our first three entries: Andrew Huberman, Dave Asprey, and Mark Hyman. WHO wins this round? And WHO deserves to be on the next batch of cards? #Wellness #Influencers
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
There are just THREE human studies on BPC-157, totaling just 30 participants. None was randomized or controlled. So why are people buying it? I answer that question and more in this month's column for @SkeptInquirer #health #science #peptides skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/fr...
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Do you know the difference between a science communicator and a science commodifier? In this month's @SkeptInquirer column, I explore how the latter cherry-pick studies, misappropriate data, and produce conclusions that dovetail with branded products. linktr.ee/NBTiller
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
From The Health and Wellness Lie | Chapter 1: Perverse incentives and harmful consequences.
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
A few joyous blurbs.
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Thrilled to announce that THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS LIE launches this Thursday, 16th July, in Europe, and is available for preorder in the US and Canada. 🇬🇧🇪🇺https://linktr.ee/TheHealthandWellnessLie, 🇺🇸🇨🇦https://www.amazon.com/Health-Wellness-Lie-Exposing-well-being/dp/1399424246 #Health #wellness ⬇️⬇️
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Can pickle juice really cure muscle cramps? The "neural reflex" hypothesis is doing a LOT of heavy lifting. skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/pi... #worldcup #picklejuice
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
I have a feature article in this month's @UltraRunningMag: The science of ultra-running-related hallucinations. Scroll for the main takeaways. ➡️https://subscriber.ultrarunning.com/archive/article/tricks-of-the-mind-the-science-of-ultrarunning-hallucinations#24 [Sorry, subscribers only]
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
AG1 is arguably the most prominent of all powdered greens. They make bold claims such as “feel strong, vital, and nourished.” But what does the evidence say about the benefits of this popular supplement? Read the column in @SkeptInquirer for the lowdown. skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/ri... #AG1
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Lock up your wellness grifters. The Health and Wellness Lie is available for preorder. #wellness #misinformation
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Reposted by Nick Tiller, Ph.D.
Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Should You Take Nutrition Advice From a Chatbot? [Spoiler: USE CAUTION! 🚧] www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/w... by @alicecallahan.bsky.social @nbtiller.bsky.social: "Chatbots are convenient and fast, but sometimes they give 'incredibly bad advice.'"
nytimes.com
Should You Take Nutrition Advice From a Chatbot?
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Thank you @IrishSESA for your warm hospitality. I had a ball meeting everyone and exploring how bad science affects public health and trust in medicine. #wellness #misinformation #badscience #TheHealthAndWellnessLie
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Catch me on this week's episode of the @Scienceofsport podcast, talking about chatbot #health #misinformation: ➡️https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkHH62nGpO0 ➡️https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-you-trust-ai-for-health-and-training-advice/id1461719225?i=1000766464444
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Kudos AHA.
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
What are we doing here, folks?!🤦‍♂️ #cocodona250
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Celebrating the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough: a British institution whose love of science and the natural world has inspired generations to leave the planet better than they found it.
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Exercise is medicine. But as with all medicines, there's a MINIMUM dose required for benefits & an OPTIMUM range. There's also likely a TOXIC dose. For #exercise, the therapeutic ratio is high, but not infinite. ➡️https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34542868 ➡️https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32769665
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Studies with food-industry involvement published in leading nutrition journals were ~six times more likely to report favorable findings than studies without industry involvement: 55.6% vs 9.7%. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC... #nutrition #research
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Reposted by Nick Tiller, Ph.D.
Jonathan Jarry @jonathanjarry.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
My latest for @mcgilloss.bsky.social is a weighty tome: the hallmarks of pseudoscience. I'm very proud of it. Lots to chew on. W/ help from the amazing @nbtiller.bsky.social @mrmmarsh.bsky.social @caulfieldtim.bsky.social & Dr. Alice Howarth of @skepticswithak.org. www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/...
mcgill.ca
The Hallmarks of Pseudoscience
I’ve been investigating pseudoscientific claims for 13 years now. The word “pseudoscience” means “fake science,” something that superficially looks like science—and is often sold as such—but that isn’...
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
My latest column in @SkeptInquirer explores the recent US executive order to expand research into psychedelics, and ibogaine in particular. How did it come about? And what are the risks? skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/th...
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Tonight, 19:00 Eastern. skepticalinquirer.org/video/the-he...
skepticalinquirer.org
The Health and Wellness Lie | Nick Tiller | Skeptical Inquirer Presents
Science has advanced enormously in the past 500 years, guided by experimental tests of theory and practice.  In that same time, science teaching and education—guided primarily by tradition and dogma—h...
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Reposted by Nick Tiller, Ph.D.
MedPage Today @medpagetoday.com · 28/04/2026
A new study in BMJ Open found that popular AI chatbots frequently produced problematic responses to health & medical questions, including fabricated citations & answers delivered with confidence & certainty even when they were incorrect. @nbtiller.bsky.social www.medpagetoday.com/practicemana...
medpagetoday.com
AI Chatbot Told Users That Herbal Remedies Can Treat Cancer
Nearly half of chatbot answers to medical questions deemed 'problematic' in study
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
www.medpagetoday.com/practicemana... #chatbots #health
medpagetoday.com
AI Chatbot Told Users That Herbal Remedies Can Treat Cancer
Nearly half of chatbot answers to medical questions deemed 'problematic' in study
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
It's one of ChatGPT's most insidious tells: "It's not X; it's Y" has become shorthand for lazy AI slop. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... #AIWriting #ChatGPT
theguardian.com
ChatGPT’s latest stylistic quirk is sinister, infuriating – and absolutely everywhere | Stuart Heritage
Once you start noticing “it’s not X, it’s Y” as you scroll online, you can’t fail to register it. I’ve become so hypervigilant that it has seeped into my subconscious thoughts
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Our NEW study in @BMJ_Open is an audit of 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 spread by popular AI chatbots. Learn more🧵1/7 Thx to amazing team: @CaulfieldTim @srmarcon at @UAlbertaLaw & @Jeukendrup @marco_zenone 🔗https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/4/e112695 #health #misinformation #AI
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/4/e112695
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
99% of #acupuncture studies from China report benefits of the therapy. "This isn’t routine bias; it’s the systematic sterilization of negative outcomes." Is it time we stop publishing acupuncture studies from China? New column in @SkeptInquirer.
https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/is-it-time-we-stop-publishing-acupuncture-research-from-china/
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
"After trekkers reported nausea, dizziness or body aches, they were advised to descend and agree to costly emergency helicopter evacuations. Authorities said operators then used forged medical and flight documents to claim costs from international travel insurers."
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/everest-climbers-sherpas-fake-rescue-scam-poisoning-b2950597.html
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
A "good" VO2max for your age, like 60th-80th percentile, gives you all the "longevity" benefits the metric will provide. There is no lifespan advantage to being Olympic-level fit.
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
New feature in the Feb/Mar issue of @UltraRunningMag 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏔️
https://subscriber.ultrarunning.com/archive/issue/feb-mar-2026
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
The daily use of AI, in everything from smartphones to stoplights, can be traced back to a simple game of checkers—played by Aurhur Samuel in 1959. ➡️https://gwern.net/doc/reinforcement-learning/model-free/1959-samuel.pdf
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Bad science, lies, and possible fraud: The homeopathy paper that duped a mainstream journal. New column today in @SkeptInquirer #health #pseudoscience Read it ⬇️⬇️: h/t @theliverdoc
https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/extraordinary-claims-the-homeopathy-paper-that-duped-a-mainstream-journal/
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
FIVE PERCENT of Americans regularly consult psychic services, with ONE-THIRD (30%) using them occasionally. Though high, it's actually lower than many other high-income developed countries.
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Reposted by Nick Tiller, Ph.D.
Build Up Dietitians @builduprdns.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
#quotes via @nbtiller.bsky.social
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
A quick lesson in research conflicts of interest: This 2024 paper in the Journal of Dietary Supplements showed that an oxygen "nanobubble beverage" improved power output in a 16-km cycling TT by ~4%, and in repeated Wingates by ~7%. 🧵1/7
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Political polarization. Negative numbers (blue) reflect less polarization and more friendly political interactions. Positive numbers (red) reflect more division and hostile interactions. Myanmar=3.72, US=1.79, Britain=-0.24, Norway=-2.1.
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/political-polarization-score
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Don't criticize Attia to promote your own brand. That's fake and disingenuous: criticize him for being a dirtbag. And remember, he's far from the only wellness influencer contributing to the industry's ethical rot.
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
More acupuncture nonsense. L.I.4 (Hegu, the joining valley) is said to "treat" an astonishing array of conditions, including mumps and "pain in the arm." This is medically impossible—out of step with everything we've learned about anatomy and physiology since Hippocrates.
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
New study in JAMA shows acupuncture is SUPERIOR to sham for headaches. Three reasons it’s probably wrong: 🧵1/6
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Chiropractic may be the biggest evidence-to-marketing mismatch I’ve seen in wellness. Numbers in the UK are growing every year, but the serious risks aren't justified by the imaginary benefits. #chiropractic #pseudoscience
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
June 2026.
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Another death related to whole-body cryotherapy, this time in Paris. *Preventable death, since the benefits are highly contested, with small and inconsistent effects, and the risks simply aren't justified. #wellness #pseudoscience www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Mouth taping: 2 recent reviews (19 studies): weak/limited evidence of benefit, unsupported influencer claims, and potential risks (esp. nasal obstruction or sleep apnea). If you snore or mouth-breathe, get assessed—don’t DIY a fix. #wellness #pseudoscience
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
"Blanket denialism is obvious. Like a sports team using the same formation match after match or relying too heavily on a star player, it's predictable and easy to counter. Strategic denialism is different. And much more dangerous." This month's column: skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/ma...
skepticalinquirer.org
MAHA Isn’t Denying Science: It’s Doing Something Much Worse | Skeptical Inquirer
A broken clock is right twice a day. MAHA’s record on health policy is far less prolific. Still, the movement’s scattergun approach to wellness occasionally ...
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Hear Monday's interview with Phil Clark on ABC's Nightlife (@RadioNational) as we wade through the Wild West of wellness bullsh*t. 🔗https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/nightlife/106001452 #wellness #misinformation
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Why does sport have an obsession with pickle juice? Does it really prevent cramp? Probably not. But the issue goes much deeper. This month's column: Cramping Cure or Congruence Bias? skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/pi... @SkeptInquirer
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Semaglatide -> weight loss with "preserved" lean mass: •106 participants (70% women). •Body weight declined 10-15% at one year. •Fat mass ⬇ 19% with a 3 kg loss of lean mass (DXA). 🔗https://dom-pubs.pericles-prod.literatumonline.com/doi/10.1111/dom.70141 #weightloss #GLP1
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
With the rapid expansion of AI and large language models now incorporated into every sector, it seems sensible to ask some basic questions. In Skeptical Inquirer this month, I do just that. 🔗https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/can-you-trust-ai-to-give-health-advice/ #science #AI
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Nick Tiller, Ph.D. @nbtiller.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
IS RHABDO a RED ALERT or a BADGE OF HONOR? My article in Ultra-Running Magazine (July 2025) explores the all-too-common phenomenon of rhabdomyolysis. Causes and solutions. "Don't normalize the abnormal." #running #health subscriber.ultrarunning.com/archive/issu... @ultrarunningmag.bsky.social
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