Sydney Sweeney pops off with a highly sexualized sports commercial. Female athletes and influencers instantly go viral, criticizing the campaign and arguing that it sets women back in an era of female empowerment.
Serena Williams stars in GLP-1 commercials after losing 30+ pounds, while Jillian Michaels and Jameela Jamil take to social media to argue that weight-loss medications are normalizing appetite suppression and reinforcing the decades-old pressure women have faced to be smaller.
Lizzo and Ilona Maher promote body positivity and push back against diet culture. Bill Maher and trainer Jordan Syatt argue that we can respect people while also acknowledging the health risks associated with obesity.
Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Vonda Wright are filling the feeds of women 40+ with conversations about weighted vests, supplements and hormone therapy. Meanwhile, Dr. Jennifer Gunter and Dr. Susan Davis have pushed back against the idea that every woman needs hormones for longevity—or that higher doses are necessarily better.
And the arguments go on and on.
This black-and-white, pick a side and die on that hill mentality isn’t limited to the wellness world. Politics has perfected all-or-nothing thinking, and social media has turned it into a business model.
And here’s where I think it gets dangerous.
When it comes to fitness and nutrition, if you’re constantly chasing headlines, trends and controversy, you can start to believe the basics aren’t enough.
You’re told you need the newest supplement, the latest medication, a specific diet, a certain hormone protocol, a particular workout, or the perfect morning routine.
Because balanced and boring doesn’t make the same media splash.
But here’s the truth:
Your health doesn’t need to be an argument.
You don’t have to choose a side on every controversial topic. You don’t have to completely embrace or completely reject every new idea. And you certainly don’t have to outsource your health decisions to someone whose income depends on views, clicks, followers or product sales.
So how do we see through the fog and create healthy, sustainable habits that actually work for us?
- Think critically.
- Don’t believe everything you read or hear—whether it comes from a celebrity, influencer, doctor, trainer or even someone you really like.
- Ask questions. Look for evidence. Fact-check claims. And be willing to change your mind when better information comes along.
- Limit the noise.
- Unfollow people and pages that constantly push an all-or-nothing narrative.
You don’t need to consume every hot take.
Spend a little less time watching other people talk about health and a little more time actually living yours.
Pay attention to the people who quietly do the work.
Some of the best examples of healthy living aren’t going viral. They’re the people you know who consistently move their bodies, eat reasonably well, get enough sleep, manage stress, maintain meaningful relationships and take care of themselves year after year. They’re not chasing every trend. They’re building a life they can actually sustain.
And maybe that’s the biggest thing we’ve lost in the wellness conversation:
- Health isn’t supposed to be a team sport.
- You don’t have to pick a side.
- You don’t have to be extreme.
- You don’t have to look a certain way.
- You don’t have to do everything perfectly.
You just need to learn how to think for yourself, take care of yourself, and build habits that you can live with for the long haul.
Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to win the wellness argument.
The goal is to live well.
