Medicine and Science from The BMJ Wellness industry lies, and preventative AI evaluation
Jun 2, 2025
Devi Sridhar, a Professor of Global Public Health and author, discusses the myths propagated by wellness culture and its failure to consider societal factors affecting health. She emphasizes the urgent need for systemic policies to improve life expectancy amid rising health issues. John Downey from the Centre of Health Technology shares insights on Portsmouth’s 'Living Lab,' aimed at testing real-world applications of health tech. The duo critiques the misleading nature of wellness trends on social media and explores the transformative potential of AI in preventive healthcare.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Life Expectancy vs. Morbidity
- Life expectancy is increasing, but we see people living longer with chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancer.
- This contradicts the idea of compressing morbidity, where illness is brief before death rather than prolonged.
Diet's Crucial Role in Health
- Diet, especially ultra-processed foods, strongly influences health outcomes and longevity.
- Policy changes are needed to improve diet quality and affordability of healthy foods for children.
Industry Profits vs Public Health
- Food industries prioritize profits by marketing unhealthy ultra-processed foods, especially targeting children.
- Government intervention is critical to regulate this and address the health cost burden borne by individuals.
