What’s considered healthy (or not!) changes every few years when it comes to diet and wellness. Some trends, such as choosing non-alcoholic drinks or boosting your protein intake (mentioned here, in our biggest diet and nutrition trends for 2025), are good for you. But others—especially many of the “health hacks” that have gone viral—can be misleading or even harmful. In fact, many so-called “health” trends are popularized by people who aren’t medical professionals.
These trends also fuel misinformation, especially around topics such as maintaining a healthy weight. “Some trends may actually exacerbate the problem you are trying to solve,” says Alfred F. Tallia, M.D., professor and chair, family medicine and community health at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and professor of public health and pharmacy at Rutgers Health. “For example, some diets, such as meat-only or eating entire sticks of butter are nutritionally bereft of essential components of food for good health.”
The appeal of quick fixes isn’t surprising because it’s human nature to want instant results. “A quick ‘hack’ gets more traction on social media and thus spreads faster,” says Brooke Jeffy, M.D., board certified dermatologist and founder of youth skincare brand btwn. “Hacks are a lot easier than healthy living and being consistent, and they tend to be unique and feel more fun.” To read the full story.