The FIT40 Podcast #332: Why Wellness Pseudoscience Is So Dangerous for Your Health w/ Dr. Jonathan Stea
Aug 18, 2025
Join clinical psychologist Dr. Jonathan Stea, an expert in addiction and mental health, as he uncovers the perils of wellness pseudoscience. He discusses the alarming spread of misinformation on social media, particularly regarding ADHD. Delve into wellness myths and the cognitive biases that shape health perceptions, while learning the importance of science literacy. Dr. Stea also emphasizes the value of community support in recovery and offers insights on using cognitive behavioral therapy for better mental health.
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Misinformation Spreads Exponentially Online
- Social media massively amplifies mental health misinformation, with many popular TikToks misleading viewers.
- Dr. Jonathan Stea found one study where top 1000 mental health videos had 33% misleading content viewed over a billion times.
Wellness Oversimplifies Health Causes
- Wellness narratives overemphasize personal responsibility and downplay genetics, social factors, and bad luck.
- That distortion lets companies sell oversimplified solutions while ignoring systemic causes of health problems.
Trust Scientific Consensus, Not Single Experts
- Trust bodies of scientific experts and look for consensus across many studies rather than single authorities.
- Use clinical practice and public health guidelines as proxies for replicated, peer-reviewed findings.
