The Perils of Eschewing Reality: How Wellness Culture Obscures Social Inequality
In an age of rampant consumerism and relentless self-optimisation, we’ve become obsessed with eschewing anything deemed “unhealthy” or “toxic”. From clean eating to digital detoxes, wellness culture urges us to purge our lives of impurities in pursuit of an idealised state of wellbeing. But in our zeal to eschew perceived threats to our health, are we losing sight of the bigger picture?
The global wellness industry, now valued at a staggering $4.4 trillion, has capitalised on our anxieties and insecurities. We’re bombarded with messages urging us to “live our best lives” through an ever-expanding array of products, diets, and lifestyle choices. Wellness influencers and alternative health providers peddle miracle cures and complicated nutritional formulas, promising to biohack our way to perfect health.
But this obsession with individual wellness comes at a cost. By fixating on personal choices and lifestyle tweaks, we risk ignoring the broader societal factors that profoundly impact our mental and physical wellbeing. The wellness industry’s mantra of personal responsibility conveniently aligns with neoliberal ideology, placing the burden of health squarely on the individual while absolving governments and corporations of their role in creating healthier societies.
The False Promise of Total Control
Wellness culture sells us the seductive notion that health is entirely within our control. If we just make the “right” choices — eat clean, exercise religiously, meditate daily — we can achieve optimal wellbeing and stave off illness. This worldview implies that poor health is a personal failing, a result of laziness or lack of willpower.
But this simplistic framework ignores the complex realities of human health. Our wellbeing is shaped by a multitude of factors beyond our control, including genetics, early childhood experiences, socioeconomic status, and environmental conditions. No amount of green smoothies or mindfulness apps can fully counteract the health impacts of poverty, discrimination, or exposure to environmental toxins.
The pressure to constantly optimise our health can itself become a source of stress and anxiety. The pursuit of wellness morphs into a joyless, punitive endeavour as we obsessively track our steps, macronutrients, and sleep cycles. We begin to view our bodies as machines to be fine-tuned rather than living, feeling organisms deserving of care and compassion.
The Privilege of Wellness
Perhaps the most insidious aspect of wellness culture is how it obscures and perpetuates social inequalities. The lifestyle choices promoted by the wellness industry — organic food, boutique fitness classes, mindfulness retreats — are often accessible only to the affluent. This creates a two-tiered system where health becomes a luxury good, further widening the gap between rich and poor.
Consider the push for “clean eating” and whole foods. While there’s certainly value in consuming more fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed foods, this advice ignores the reality of food deserts and limited access to affordable, nutritious options in many low-income communities. Similarly, exhortations to “just exercise more” ring hollow for those working multiple jobs with little free time, or living in neighbourhoods without safe spaces for physical activity.
The wellness industry’s focus on individual choices also serves to deflect attention from systemic issues that impact public health. It’s far easier (and more profitable) to sell people on the latest superfood than to address the root causes of poor health outcomes — things like income inequality, lack of affordable healthcare, and environmental degradation.
Mental Health: Beyond Personal Responsibility
Nowhere is the limitations of the individualistic wellness paradigm more evident than in the realm of mental health. While lifestyle factors certainly play a role in psychological wellbeing, the wellness industry’s emphasis on personal choices as the primary determinant of mental health is deeply misguided and potentially harmful.
Research consistently shows that social and economic factors have a profound impact on mental health outcomes. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that socioeconomic inequalities account for a significant portion of mental health disparities. Factors like job insecurity, financial stress, and lack of access to quality healthcare all contribute to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among disadvantaged populations.
Yet the wellness industry continues to promote individualised solutions like meditation apps and self-care routines as panaceas for mental distress. While these tools can be helpful, they do little to address the underlying social conditions that give rise to mental health challenges in the first place.
The relentless focus on personal responsibility can exacerbate feelings of shame and inadequacy among those struggling with mental health issues. If wellness is simply a matter of making the right choices, then those who are unwell must be doing something wrong. This stigmatising attitude ignores the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to mental health conditions.
The Limits of Lifestyle Medicine
To be clear, lifestyle choices do matter for health outcomes. Research has shown that behaviours like regular physical activity, a balanced diet, moderate alcohol consumption, and not smoking are associated with better physical and mental health. A study of German and Chinese university students found that these lifestyle factors predicted higher levels of positive mental health and fewer mental health problems over time.
However, it’s crucial to recognise the limitations of lifestyle interventions and avoid overstating their impact. While making healthy choices can certainly improve individual wellbeing, they are not a panacea for all health issues, nor are they equally accessible or effective for everyone.
Furthermore, an excessive focus on lifestyle factors can lead to victim-blaming and a neglect of broader public health initiatives. As public health researcher Lindsay McLaren argues, “An emphasis on lifestyle diverts attention from the social-structural foundations of health.”
Towards a More Holistic Understanding of Health
Rather than eschewing all aspects of wellness culture, we need a more nuanced, socially conscious approach to health and wellbeing. This means:
- Acknowledging the social determinants of health
Recognising that factors like income, education, housing, and social support play a crucial role in shaping health outcomes. - Advocating for systemic change
Pushing for policies that address health inequalities, such as universal healthcare, living wages, and environmental protections. - Promoting community-based approaches
Supporting initiatives that foster social connections and collective wellbeing, rather than focusing solely on individual behaviours. - Emphasising harm reduction over perfectionism
Encouraging sustainable, realistic health practices rather than rigid, all-or-nothing approaches. - Challenging the commercialisation of wellness
Being critical consumers of health information and products, and resisting the notion that wellbeing can be bought and sold.
The Role of Mental Health Professionals
Mental health professionals have a crucial role to play in reshaping our approach to wellness. Rather than simply prescribing lifestyle changes or medication, therapists and counsellors can help clients understand the broader context of their mental health challenges.
This might involve exploring how societal pressures and cultural narratives around health and success contribute to anxiety and depression. It could also mean helping clients advocate for themselves in the workplace or navigate complex healthcare systems.
Mental health professionals can use their platforms to challenge simplistic narratives around mental health and advocate for policies that address the social determinants of wellbeing. As the American Psychiatric Association notes, lifestyle interventions should complement, not replace, evidence-based treatments and broader efforts to create healthier societies.
Conclusion: Embracing Complexity
In our quest for health and happiness, we must resist the temptation to eschew nuance and complexity. The wellness industry’s promise of total control through individual choices is alluring but ultimately misleading. True wellbeing requires us to look beyond personal lifestyle tweaks and engage with the messy realities of our interconnected world.
This doesn’t mean abandoning all efforts at self-improvement or healthy living. Rather, it means approaching wellness with a more critical, socially conscious mindset. We can make choices that support our individual health while also recognising the limitations of those choices and advocating for broader social change.
As we explore the complex landscape of health and wellness, let’s eschew simplistic solutions and embrace a more holistic, equitable vision of wellbeing — one that recognises the profound connections between personal health and social justice.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10
Bob Lynn / 03-Dec-2024
