Dissecting Harmful Wellness Culture: What Helps vs. What Hurts
“Do this one thing and you’ll revolutionize your health.”
“It’s not your fault—you’ve just been misled by the traditional healthcare system.”
“Here’s the pill/supplement/cleanse that doctors don’t want you to know about.”
Sound familiar? Everywhere you look, wellness influencers and even some medical professionals are offering shortcuts to a better, healthier you. But here’s the thing every healthcare worker (HCW) knows and will tell you—there is no quick fix when it comes to your health.
The rise of wellness culture has, sadly, started to overshadow decades of evidence-based healthcare. Concepts like preventative care, which professionals have advocated for years, are being reshaped—or completely sidelined—in favor of extreme, often profit-driven solutions that prey on insecurities. HCW have been telling people for decades to take care of their health by utilizing preventative care such as:
Appropriate cancer screenings
Eating a plant predominant diet
Limting alcohol intake
Exercising and moving daily
Meditating/yoga/practicing mindfulness
Prioritizing mental health
But somehow all of this has been erased - and the health and wellness influencer sphere (along with some media hungry doctors) are clapping back against basic, evidence-based knowledge. Every single HCW recommends all of the aforementioned preventative care. And if they don’t - get a new PCP. But preventative care does not work in a vacuum. In fact, a healthcare system only built around preventative care will lead to the unnecessary loss of life. Stop pitting the traditional health care system against the health and wellness space - we must work in tandem.
Preventative Care Isn’t the Whole Solution
But here’s the kicker. Preventative care, while vital, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Wellness culture often pits this against the traditional healthcare system, fueling a toxic “either/or” conversation. You’ve likely heard messaging like, “Why rely on medication or treatments when you could just eat better, exercise, and meditate?”
This binary thinking does more harm than good. Preventative measures aren’t a cure-all; they’re part of a holistic system that also includes intervention-based care when illness or injury strikes. An overemphasis on prevention without access to treatments like surgery, specialty medications, or intensive care can lead to unnecessary suffering or even loss of life.
Rather than choosing sides, the solution is integration. The healthcare system and wellness practices must work together to achieve the best possible outcomes. If any professional or influencer insists it’s one or the other, you might want to second-guess their credibility.
How to vet a science or medical communicator on social media
It can be confusing on how to “vet,” and perhaps more importantly, trust, scientists and HCW on social media for the latest news and information. Below is my list of questions to ask before you follow someone or blindly take their advice:
Check their credentials - are the board certified if they are a HCW? Or do they have a degree that provides them the expertise to back up the type of science they are disseminating?
Does their science communication evolve with the actual science?
Are they simply stating recommendations that you WANT to hear despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary?
Do they have financial reasons to push a certain agenda? Selling a course? Selling a supplement?
Do you find that your emotions run constantly high or low when you read their stories or posts?
Do they cite their sources/provide primary sources for the claims they are making?
Do the recommendations they provide always run contrary to public health recommendations?
Do OTHER reputable science communicators support/follow/share their resources?
Do they welcome questions? Or immediately shut you down? A science communicator should be open to respectful q’s…
These are just a few, of many, red flags to watch out for when digesting information from the wild Wild West that is the internet and social media. It is a wonderful tool to stay up to date, but also rife with misinformation/disinformation which can make it difficult to trust. I PURPOSELY share my personal life to show you all that I practice what I preach. That is one, of many, missions and goals of this little corner of social media that I inhabit. Thank you for trusting me.
Creating a Healthier Wellness Culture
Wellness culture can be beautiful—a community that uplifts each other and prioritizes self-care. But to truly help instead of harm, it needs more nuance and collaboration with traditional healthcare.
When in doubt, trust experts who practice what they preach, respect science, and show their humanity. For instance, I always share glimpses of my real life to show how fully I believe in (and implement) the advice I give. Authenticity and transparency build trust, which is why my corner of social media exists to help—not sensationalize.
It’s time to demand better from wellness culture. Not just for ourselves, but for our families and communities—so we can all build a system that helps us thrive.