Despite the lack of scientific evidence, the wellness industry continues to thrive, with a worth of $1.5 trillion and growing. This has raised concerns about people using unproven therapies to treat serious medical conditions. For example, the US Food and Drug Administration recently recalled a dietary supplement for making unproven claims about preventing, treating, or curing COVID-19.
Colleen Derkatch, a researcher at Toronto Metropolitan University, has observed a rise in unsubstantiated claims and celebrity endorsements in the unregulated wellness industry. Rather than focusing on debunking these claims, Derkatch wanted to understand why people are attracted to wellness therapies in the first place.
In her book, “Why Wellness Sells,” Derkatch conducted in-depth interviews with 40 individuals who use supplements and other wellness therapies in their daily lives. She also analyzed the arguments and language used by members of online communities centered around “natural” healing. Her findings suggest that the appeal of the wellness industry has more to do with societal failings than individual gullibility.
Overall, there is a need to critically examine the allure of wellness therapies despite the lack of scientific support. By understanding the underlying factors driving this appeal, we can have a more informed conversation about the effectiveness and safety of such treatments.
Insights:
- The wellness industry is a booming business, worth $1.5 trillion and growing.
- Concerns have been raised about people using unproven therapies for serious medical conditions.
- Colleen Derkatch’s research focuses on understanding why people are attracted to wellness therapies.
- In her book, “Why Wellness Sells,” Derkatch interviewed individuals using wellness therapies and analyzed online communities promoting “natural” healing.
- The appeal of the wellness industry seems to be rooted in societal failings rather than individual gullibility.
