One of the most talked-about subjects in fashion and lifestyle journals in recent years is wellness. But exactly what is it? Health is a complete condition of physical, mental, and social well-being, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Yet, a closer examination of this idea of “health” reveals that it has been commercialized and often taken to absurd lengths with no supporting evidence at all.
Those who can afford it have been sold on the idea of “wellness,” which frequently leads to ridiculous procedures that have little to do with actual health. This paradigm, which medicalizes daily life and places responsibility on individuals rather than taking into consideration more important variables like poverty or prejudice, ignores the realities of how health functions for the majority of people today. This strategy has eliminated more comprehensive healthcare models and made it nearly impossible for those without access to funding to obtain necessary services like preventive care or mental health treatment.
The realm of wellness is virtually endless, with everything from yoga classes and bulletproof coffee to pricey spa days, private consultations with nutritionists, personal trainers, and even DNA testing kits aimed to provide customers with a quick cure that promises better health. But there’s more going on here; these trends are frequently elitist and based on having access to specific extravagances that many people are unable to afford.
Furthermore, the “wellness” movement frequently focuses on superficial changes brought about by minor lifestyle adjustments rather than tackling systemic problems like inequality, which are essential to establishing actual long-term wellness for all. In other words, it’s not about developing long-lasting solutions, but rather about developing products and services that boost our self-esteem momentarily without actually addressing any underlying issues.
Without comprehending the ramifications, it’s simple for us as consumers to be captivated by images from glitzy publications or Instagram influencers pushing these purportedly “healthy lives.” Avoiding more urgent problems like poverty or the lack of access to high-quality healthcare, which affects millions of people every day worldwide, should be our top priority.
At its foundation, wellness should focus on offering solutions that put health before wealth, emphasizing preventative care for people from all socioeconomic backgrounds rather than showy gimmicks marketed as “luxury living” that is only accessible to those who can afford it. If we want real change in our global communities, we must seek to adopt sustainable practices that are supported by science and study rather than fads that are determined by marketing plans made only for financial gain.
