Editorial standards

Our Editorial Process

Here is how we research, write, review and update every guide and article, so you can judge how far to trust it.

  • Last updated 24 September 2026
  • 7 steps
  • Named writer and reviewer

In short

  • We research from trusted sources such as the WHO, CDC, NHS, NIH and PubMed.
  • A named writer researches and writes. A named Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) reviews.
  • A CPT is a fitness credential, not a medical one, and we say so.
  • AI may support research and readability, and humans check every article.
  • We date our pages honestly and fix confirmed mistakes.
Seven steps

How every guide and article is made

You can judge how far to trust a page by following the same steps we do.

Step 1

Research from trusted sources

We start with respected sources. These include guidelines from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, national health services such as the NHS, the US National Institutes of Health, and peer-reviewed studies indexed on PubMed.

We link to sources on the page, so you can read them yourself.

Step 2

Write for real people

Our Health Research Writer, Dharshini Neelakandan, turns research into plain language.

  • Short paragraphs and clear headings.
  • A direct answer near the top of each page.
  • No hype, no miracle claims and no fear tactics.
  • Original wording, not copied text.
Step 3

Review before publishing

Meena Narayanan, a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), reviews our content for accuracy, clarity and safety before it is published.

A CPT is a fitness credential. Her review does not replace review by a doctor, dietitian or mental health professional, and we do not claim it does.

Step 4

Keep health advice within limits

  • We give general information, not personal medical advice.
  • We tell readers when to see a doctor.
  • Mental Wellbeing content covers everyday stress only. We do not cover clinical conditions, medicines or self-harm, and we point to professional help instead.
  • We do not promote extreme diets, detoxes or unproven cures.
Step 5

How we use AI

AI tools may be used to help organize research and improve readability. Every article is researched, written, fact-checked and reviewed by humans before publication.

AI does not replace our editorial or review process.

Step 6

Update and date our pages

Each page shows when it was published and when it was last updated. We change the update date only when we make a real change.

We revisit pages when guidelines change or when readers point out problems.

Step 7

Correct mistakes

If you find an error, tell us. We check it against our sources, fix confirmed errors and update the page date.

How ads and products fit in

Advertising and product sales may help pay for this work. They never change what we recommend. Read more on our About page and disclaimer.

Meet the people behind it

Every page names its writer and its reviewer.

Meet our writer and reviewer, or read about HSW.

Related

Keep reading

Spotted a mistake or have a question?

We check every report

Tell us the page and what to check. We verify it against our sources and fix confirmed errors.