Is our obsession with 'wellness' making us miserable?

Counselling psychiatrist Niamh Delmar looks at the damaging effects of obsessing over wellness.

The global health and wellness market is valued at an estimated 1.8 trillion dollars, and is growing annually. An obsession of well-being has evolved, with younger people purchasing more wellness products and services than previous generations. Less alcohol is being consumed, and more exercise being taken by this cohort.

While such a preoccupation with mental and physical health is welcome, it is not always evidence-based and can become all consuming. This wellness ideology often focuses on fitness, thinness, eating habits and anti-aging techniques.

Vitamin drips, gyms, water bottle crazes and biomonitoring wearables are just some of the features of the health craze.

Consumers seem to be becoming fixated on the image of 'wellness' rather than the feeling of it. Fears of aging, illness and death are deepening, and the myth behind these fads is that they hold the keys to happiness, careers, love and wealth.

To feel better or to heal, people turn to a myriad of diets and experiences. Social media plays a significant part, with influencers and gurus making big claims, with little or no expertise. From a young age, health and wellness is prioritised, but often obsessively focuses on just one aspect of health. #FitTok, for example, a subsection of TikTok, offers work-outs and food plans.

There are significant benefits in seeking healthier lives. Physical activity is linked with longevity, fewer heart attacks and strokes, but it doesn't have to be obsessive. Wellness has to be balanced, not at the expense of other areas. It is multi-faceted with many factors intertwining.

And is this well-being frenzy actually working? According to the World Happiness Report, young people are less happy in recent years. Economic challenges, social and technological factors, uncertainty with climate change, political divisions and a saturation of bad news are diminishing wellness.

For those living with health conditions, such high standards are out of their reach. There is an undercurrent of seeking perfection and an association with social status. Those who are less fit, less thin, less 'clean' in their eating feel negatively judged, or excluded from the wellness club.

Maintaining such a level of health, fitness and appearance is out of financial reach for many young people who are turning to celebrities and the wealthy online for advice.

The promise of being 'fixed' has the potential to exploit peoples' vulnerabilities. This obsessive pursuit of wellness is also a dangerous breeding ground for quacks and scammers. Health advice by non-experts and misinformation is thriving.

Creators are often disguised sellers promoting products to online communities. Many useless or unregulated products get promoted by snake oil type sales people with false promises of curing or transforming lives.

There is also the danger that an extreme obsession with eating 'clean' nutritious food could result in severe deficiencies. Referred to as 'orthorexia nervosa,' it is an obsession with dietary purity. People can also get sucked in to exercise addiction, which is the compulsion to exercise despite physical injury. If unable to get exercise, the person is in bad form. A further drawback of the health and wellness frenzy is that it engulfs individualism at the extreme, fostering self-obsession.

It leaks in to organisations as well, with workplace wellness and all sorts of training provided, but with limited positive outcomes. People continue to struggle with work related stress and burn-out.

Globally, mental health issues are the leading cause of disability and illness. As well as resources to help mental health, systemic issues also need to be addressed. Wellness on the job focuses heavily on the individual rather than any failings of the system.

There is a benefit of the wellness culture, but we can't just zoom in to one aspect of health and one size doesn't fit all. It is not a replacement for science, medicine or therapy. There are other factors that contribute to wellness such as affordable and accessible healthcare, decent working and housing conditions, standards of living and supports.

We need to hold realistic expectations and accept that life may encompass joy and 'living your best life,' but also challenges and suffering. Moderation ensures that wellness adds to your life, but doesn't control it. Happiness involves many contributing factors, both within and outside the individual.

It helps to be digitally literate and examine carefully what is being offered and by whom. Navigate social media and websites wisely. Avoid comparisons with people, who in reality, have agendas and a completely different lifestyle and income. Real wellness involves policy, society and is specific to each individual.

If you have been affected by issues raised in this story, please visit: www.rte.ie/helplines.