Wellness Trends: Are They Beneficial To Long-Term Health?
In the fast-moving world of wellness, new trends are always emerging, each one promising a different health benefit or an opportunity to change yourself or lifestyle for the better. Rob Hobson considers the popularity of health trends and how they may impact long-term health
As a nutritionist and gut health expert, I see first-hand how trends can capture the public imagination, especially when they are backed by compelling stories or gain momentum on social media. From quick-fix diets to lifestyle resets, our collective appetite for a ‘magic formula’ reflects both a genuine desire to improve wellbeing and a tendency to seek instant results.
One recent trend which took social media by storm was the ‘Great Lock In’ — a movement that encouraged people to dedicate the months from September through December to self-care, nutrition, fitness and financial goals. And while this trend inspired many to embrace positive changes it also raises important questions: Are wellness trends a gateway to long-term health or are they just encouraging short-term gratification? Can trends have a positive impact on health or are they setting us up for disappointment when they can’t be sustained?
The appeal of the trend cycle
The allure of a new trend and its health promises can be appealing; many trends are grounded in scientific research and utilise the latest studies to present new ways to improve our health and wellbeing.
The past year alone has seen a list of trends hit headlines publicising the associated health benefits: creatine, psyllium husk and fibermaxxing are just three that gained traction in 2025, and all three have research to back their benefits which makes them exciting and impactful for the health and wellbeing world.
With the support of research and the backing of science, we continue to make new discoveries. It has been over the last five years that the importance of the microbiome on overall health has become more prevalent and without these discoveries and research, we would not be able to progress health and wellbeing advice.
However, there is a significant difference between seeking a magic formula in the form of a latest trend, compared to building long-term healthy habits, like caring for your gut health. Longer-term habits result in genuine improvements to your health; it is a process and needs to be consistent.
Therefore, we need to consider more sustainable ways that these new discoveries can be utilised and enable people to make a long-term commitment, rather than them being the latest trend.
If we can capture the enthusiasm and excitement for trends and feed it into a more holistic whole-body approach to health, then we may see more valuable and impactful long-lasting results.
The pitfalls of trend-driven habits
Trends can be powerful in raising awareness and offering people the chance to consider their health choices and opt for change in a positive way. Take Dry January as an example, an annual focus that has grown from being purely focused on January to now offering longer-term benefits by increasing awareness around alcohol consumption throughout the year; many people now opt to extend January into longer time periods.
For many, trends can serve as a catalyst for positive change, but what happens when the excitement fades and life returns to its unpredictable rhythm?
The challenge with trends is that they are, by nature, fleeting. They can encourage an extreme overhaul or all-or-nothing approach— we see the 30-day challenges, strict meal plans, or daily workout streaks but this can lead to burnout, guilt, or the sense of ‘failure’ when life inevitably gets in the way.
Popular trends rarely account for individual needs, preferences, or health conditions. What works for one person may not be suitable or sustainable for another, and trend-driven habits are often fuelled by external validation (social media accolades, likes, shares, group challenges), rather than intrinsic motivation.
Whilst the Great Lock In as a concept offered focus, motivation and community, it’s wide scope and expectation for change might also bring with it pressure and a source stress for those involved. There is also an argument that it encouraged ‘good behaviour’ ahead of Christmas so that you can then let loose over Christmas and New Year. These trends that promote periods of self-care ahead of periods of indulgence do not support the idea of moderation and longer-term health.
In the rush to try something new, we risk overlooking the basics— balanced nutrition, sufficient sleep, stress management, and regular movement — which are the true foundations of lasting health.
Healthy habits for the long term
If there’s one lesson to learn from the ebb and flow of wellness trends, it’s that real, lasting change is built on consistency and self-awareness, not on what’s trending. I am a firm believer that healthy changes should be built up slowly, but consistently to make them part of our everyday and form lasting habits. Here are a few tips on making changes that will stick:
Focus on small, realistic steps: Instead of overhauling your routine overnight, identify one or two manageable changes that fit your lifestyle and values. Introducing a supplement into your daily routine like Bio Kult Brighten or committing to increasing your daily fibre intake to help feed your gut microbiome are just two examples of small, manageable changes that can have a real impact on your health.
Personalise your approach: Listen to your body and work with professionals who can tailor recommendations to your unique needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, we are all different and our bodies function differently.
Avoid following extreme trends: Anything that omits complete food groups or suggests eating limited foods can sometimes do more damage than good. For example, diets high in red meats or those that completely omit fat, can have a negative impact on your digestive system and impact your body’s microbiome diversity, leading to digestive issues.
Be flexible: No one is perfect and no one can do everything, all of the time. If you miss a day or have a slip, just get back on track the next day. All is not lost, you can pick up from where you left off.
Reflect regularly: Check in with yourself. Are your habits supporting your wellbeing, or have you just given yourself more items on the ‘to do’ list that has now become a source of pressure and stress?
Whilst trends can offer a helpful nudge in the right direction, they’re not a substitute for the slow, steady work of building habits that last. We need to focus on empowering people to create sustainable, personalised routines that support their long-term wellbeing — no matter what’s trending.
Award-winning nutritionist, This Morning regular, Sunday Times best-selling author and Bio-Kult ambassador, Rob Hobson has nearly two decades of experience in the health and nutrition space. Visit: robhobson.co.uk
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