- The current trend of testing and tracking health for longevity is popular.
- Concerned about potential health issues, I paid $156 for a direct-to-consumer health test.
- However, evidence suggests that these general tests may not significantly improve health.
On a Friday afternoon in London’s financial district, I stood barefoot on a scale with freshly drawn blood.
For $78, I underwent testing for heart health, diabetes, blood, inflammation, and body composition at a private clinic.
As a health-conscious 27-year-old, I was increasingly worried about hidden health indicators like high cholesterol and visceral fat.
While growing up, the idea of optimizing health to slow aging and prevent disease wasn’t as prevalent.
With the rise of wellness culture and longevity treatments, navigating health information can be overwhelming.
Am I truly healthy on the inside despite appearing healthy on the outside?
The abundance of health information and modern life challenges create health anxiety, questioning factors like glucose levels and gut microbiome diversity.
As a health reporter, I’m aware of the impact of ultra-processed foods, microplastics, and sedentary lifestyles on health.
With the constant worry of hidden health issues, I decided to undergo a direct-to-consumer health test.
Opting for the basic in-clinic test due to convenience and past difficulties with self-testing at home.
However, there was a comparable at-home health test priced at $82.
Kim Schewitz
Testing ourselves became normal during the COVID pandemic and now companies are cashing in
Since COVID, interest in health and wellness has skyrocketed (the global wellness industry is now estimated to be worth $6.3 trillion, up from $4.2 trillion in 2018, according to a new report from the Global Wellness Institute), and it has become more normal to do health tests at home.
“We all got quite used to testing ourselves regularly and now we think, ‘okay, so if I did it for that, why not for other things?'” Annette Plüddemann, a senior research fellow at the Center for Evidence-based Medicine at the University of Oxford, told Business Insider. Plüddemann, who researches the effectiveness of diagnostic tests and technologies in providing health benefits, expressed that companies are capitalizing on the trend because there is a profitable market. She stated, “I was left feeling like I had paid $156 to solve an imaginary problem.”
The diagnostic testing market in the US was valued at $84.85 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around $158.77 billion by 2030, according to Nova One Advisor.
After receiving a detailed report of her test results and reassurance from a doctor, the author felt relieved but also questioned if she had been scammed. The experience raised doubts about the necessity of the tests and the belief that preventive medicine is always superior to traditional health practices.
Plüddemann cautioned against unnecessary health testing, as it can lead to inaccurate results, false reassurance, or misdiagnosis. She emphasized that tracking all health markers does not necessarily improve overall health outcomes or longevity.
A study published in BMJ Open in 2023 analyzed direct-to-consumer tests and found that only 11% were likely to benefit most consumers.
