Is It Healthy, Or Is It Just Marketed That Way?
Published on April 21, 2025, at 2:34 p.m.
by Katie Black.
Health and wellness fads have been around for centuries. From diet pills to exercise trends, brands have been selling the idea of an easier and faster way to be healthy.
Today, those ideas are packaged with compelling branding, trendy buzzwords and an influencer-approved aesthetic. Each new health trend is rooted in strategic public relations, messaging that speaks directly to insecurities, lifestyle aspirations and the desire for a quick fix.
Take Bloom Nutrition, for example. Its greens powder has skyrocketed in popularity, due to its aesthetically pleasing packaging and influencers claiming that it cleared their skin, improved digestion and boosted their energy.
While the product does offer nutrients and probiotics, it costs $35 for a 30-day supply, and it still doesn’t compare to the benefits of eating actual vegetables. According to a Stanford article, even though greens powders contain certain vitamins, they are more beneficial and nutrient-dense when consumed as whole foods.
That seems to be the trend in wellness PR — it doesn’t always rely on outright lies. It just takes one scientific truth and runs with it.
Another trending wellness essential that has become popular recently is IV therapy. These vitamin drips are now being offered in spa-style clinics across the country, marketed as quick fixes for hangovers and fatigue. Influencers post mid-drip, while brands promise hydration and immunity in under an hour.
These IVs range from around $100 to $200 per session. Are they really worth the high price tag?
“While it’s true that an IV can speed up how quickly things enter your bloodstream, it’s unlikely that boutique IV therapy companies can actually achieve what they claim — whether that’s curing a hangover, boosting your immune system, enhancing focus and the list goes on,” Dr. Joshua Septimus, associate professor of clinical medicine and medical director of Houston Methodist Primary Care Group Same Day Clinics, explained in an article from Houston Methodist.
Wellness trends may evolve, but their grip on consumers remains strong. The industry thrives on reinventing the same promises in new packaging, and consumers keep buying in.
As public relations professionals, it’s our responsibility to promote with integrity. Wellness brands don’t always lie — but they often glamorize or exaggerate a product, telling users it can solve every problem when it may just get them one step of the way. A greens powder with artificial flavoring isn’t a stand-in for real vegetables, and a $100 drip IV won’t heal you faster than water, rest and letting your body do what it was built to do.
In a world constantly selling what is trendy, the best thing we can do is take the time to appreciate what has always worked. Natural food, movement, hydration and sleep remain the most powerful and consistent wellness tools we have. Because trends may fade, but science will not.
