Daniel Wolfram
Doctors and health experts have a couple of warnings before you start a brand-new health journey.
If you are reading this article, that means you are currently on the internet.
That also means you have likely been exposed to a brand-new Gen Z web trend called “Maxxing.”
It comes in all forms, from “Looks-maxxing” to “Sleep-maxxing.” But the most predominant one is “Health-maxxing,” where you take your health journey to the next level.
However, doctors and health experts warn that maxing out on your health can turn dangerous quickly.
What is ‘Health-maxxing’?
The phenomenon started on the internet, where people started to push their health habits to the limit.
Usually, they are not based on science, but on anecdotal progress from people online.
Health-maxxing, in particular, puts an intense effort into improving your physical and mental health. Here, people use drastic measures to try to improve their fitness, diet, and biohacking habits.
Why you should be wary of the trend
“Often, there’s not enough evidence to know whether these health practices are actually beneficial,” argues Alison MacKinlay, a doctor who specializes in family and lifestyle medicine at Ohio State University.
Likewise, Health.com argues that Health-maxxing can be a dangerous gateway to chase the unattainable: perfection. Ultimately, the trend can have the opposite effect and eventually cause burnout.
Instead, the site recommends that you find a personalized work-life balance.
“Optimizing health can be beneficial, but when the pursuit of perfection becomes the goal, it ultimately undermines your well-being,” says Sohaib Imtiaz, Chief Medical Officer at Health.
