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Doctor of Chiropractic
Eric Berg, D.C., is widely known online as “Dr. Berg” or “The Knowledge Doc.” Because his content often covers nutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and other health-related topics, some viewers have expressed confusion about his professional background, wondering whether he was a medical doctor or not.
In an online biography, Eric Berg, D.C. states that he adopted the nickname “The Knowledge Doc” after graduating from chiropractic school, having earned a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree from Palmer College in 1988.
The title “Doctor” is legally and professionally permitted for chiropractors in the United States. However, to prevent misunderstanding, organisations such as the UK General Chiropractic Council (GCC) and the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) advise that if chiropractors use the courtesy title “Doctor” in public-facing material, it should be clearly stated that this refers to a chiropractic qualification, not a medical one.
Dr. Berg includes disclaimers on his official website and in the description text of his YouTube videos, stating that he is a licensed chiropractor and not a medical doctor.
Eric Berg, D.C., began his career in private chiropractic practice in the United States, with offices in California, Louisiana, and Virginia.
After transitioning away from clinical practice, he began producing content online. His videos and books focus heavily on the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, and hormonal health. The advice presented seems to be largely based on his personal experience as a chiropractor, alongside his own independent research.
While Dr. Berg completed two years of pre-medical studies prior to his chiropractic education, his formal training and professional licensure are in chiropractic care. He has publicly critiqued what he describes as a lack of nutrition education in conventional medical training, and appears to position his content as filling this perceived gap.
In 2008, Eric Berg, D.C. launched his YouTube channel, "Dr. Eric Berg DC," which, as of June 2025, has over 13.5 million subscribers and more than 2.9 billion views. His content focuses on simplifying complex health topics, with an emphasis on ketogenic dieting and intermittent fasting.
Eric Berg, D.C. is widely known for promoting a low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet, often combined with intermittent fasting. His content regularly emphasises the role of insulin regulation in weight loss and chronic disease prevention. He claims that fat accumulation is primarily a hormonal issue, not (just) a caloric one, and that reducing carbohydrate intake can help manage insulin resistance and improve metabolic health.
Eric Berg, D.C. developed a Keto Plan, with the aim to shift the body’s main source of energy from glucose, to fat. He explains that his plan differs from regular Keto plans because of its emphasis on whole, nutrient-dense foods.
Eric Berg, D.C. frequently discusses the purported benefits of:
Eric Berg, D.C. regularly presents views on diet and heart health that diverge from those endorsed by leading health organisations. Some of his content downplays the risks associated with elevated cholesterol levels, saturated fat consumption, and red meat intake, topics on which the scientific consensus is well-documented.
Dr. Berg's work has received mixed reactions within the medical and scientific communities.
Supporters appreciate his ability to explain nutritional concepts in simple, visual ways that resonate with the general public. His focus on reducing refined carbohydrates, and particularly in encouraging nutrient-rich whole foods is broadly in line with public health messages.
However, many registered dietitians, doctors, and science communicators have raised concerns about his claims. While they often agree with him regarding the important role that food can play to support health and well-being, criticisms are often directed at his tendency to oversimplify complex health issues, overlooking other contributing factors such as genetics, social determinants of health, or environmental exposures.
Specific criticisms include:
For example, Eric Berg, D.C. frequently discusses "adrenal fatigue" in his content, attributing a range of symptoms to overworked adrenal glands resulting from prolonged stress. Eric Berg, D.C. recommends lifestyle modifications such as stress reduction, dietary changes, and specific supplements to support adrenal health. However, it's important to note that "adrenal fatigue" is not recognised as a medical diagnosis by the broader medical community. On adrenal fatigue, the Endocrine Society says this: “No scientific proof exists to support adrenal fatigue as a true medical condition. Doctors are concerned that if you are told you have this condition, the real cause of your symptoms may not be found and treated correctly.”
Fact-checking organisations and science-based nutrition experts have also pointed out significant inaccuracies in some of his videos. For example, under Meta’s discontinued fact-checking programme, Dr. Berg’s claims on proven links between sugar consumption and cancer were rated ‘mostly false’ by PolitiFact.
Dr. Gil Carvalho, MD, PhD, conducted a thorough fact-check of a video in which Dr. Berg goes through his wife’s cholesterol levels and educates the public on what these mean. Dr. Carvalho explains that most of the ideas expressed are unfortunately not backed by scientific evidence, and that the entire video is in fact based on a flawed premise, as Dr. Berg conflated serum (blood) cholesterol with dietary cholesterol.
Finally, commenting on a video in which Dr. Berg criticises some well-established scientific recommendations, Dr. Diana Girnita puts it this way:
“When it comes to your health half truths can be just as dangerous as outright lies. His video is a perfect example on how misinformation spreads in our digital age. Why? because his video is mixing some scientific facts with unrelated explanations, oversimplified concepts and personal theories, creating a confusion mix that will be very hard to entangle for someone without medical background.”
Eric Berg, D.C., is the founder and CEO of Dr. Berg Nutritionals, a privately held company that offers a wide range of dietary supplements. These products include vitamins, digestive enzymes, and aids for sleep and stress management .
In addition to supplements, Dr. Berg offers various resources, including:
Many of these products and programmes are marketed as solutions to health issues frequently discussed in Dr. Berg's educational content, such as stress, weight management, and nutritional deficiencies.
Dr. Berg’s official website
Endocrine Society (2022). “Adrenal Fatigue.”
PolitiFact (2022). “No proof that sugar directly causes cancer, as claim suggests.”
Nutrition Made Simple! YouTube channel (2022). “Dr. Eric Berg gets fact-checked by MD PhD doctor.”
Dr. Diana Girnita - Rheumatologist OnCall YouTube Channel (2025). “Why Dr. Berg's Advice is Seriously DANGEROUS!”
ASA (2024). “Use of the term "Dr": Chiropractors.”
GCC (2022). “Using the ‘Doctor of Chiropractic’ title.”
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