The Hidden Truth Behind Viral Health Tips

A highlight of the week :

Scrolling through social media we come across catchy health advice that sounds like a hook line from a song that simply won't leave your brain for days.

Things like:

• “Sugar is poison.”

• “Cut carbs to lose weight.”

• “Detox will change your life.”

It’s catchy. It’s easy to remember. And it’s tempting to hit that share button.

But here’s the hidden problem: 

To make anything viral it has to fulfill three criteria : 

1. It has to be short, simple and easy to remember.

2. It has to be entertaining

3. And it must be shareable.

   It’s great when you’re talking about fashion tips or funny cat videos but not something serious like our health. 

If I were paid for pointing out delays in receiving correct treatment by the patients thanks to social media, then I would never have lifted the scalpel again. 

And when you lose the nuance, you end up with misinformation.

Why Do We Fall for Oversimplified Health Advice?

Mainly because—our brains love shortcuts.

It’s easier to think in black and white than to dig into the grey areas.

Getting into the details is : 

• Boring,

• Difficult to understand

• No one has the time 

• You are not educated enough 

• Will leave you more confused than satisfied.

Not fun to watch..!

What a waste of time for a content creator, supplement manufacturer or owner of a social media platform.

social media is built to reward simple, extreme takes because they get the most clicks and shares.

But there is a catch: Health isn’t black and white.

It’s personal, complex, and constantly evolving.

That’s why real health advice is never absolute. It depends on you, your body, and your lifestyle.

And generally, the important details never make it to the script of a 30-second reel. 

The Real Danger of Oversimplification : 

Now, you might be wondering, “Okay, but what’s the harm? Isn’t it better than not caring about health at all?”

Not everyone can afford to go to a doctor, or why trust doctors who are just puppets of pharma companies? 

Oversimplified health advice can actually do more harm than good :

• It sends the wrong message - Like demonizing all carbs or promoting extreme fasting.

• It leads to bad habits - you believe in quick fixes (crash dieting) , and ignore long-term health (gall bladder stones)

• It makes you buy harmful supplements - taking fat burners instead of working out. 

• It creates unhealthy eating habits - By labeling foods as “good” or “bad”,  and missing essential nutrients. 

• It creates wrong expectations - Who needs diabetes medication when we have karela  juice and salad? 

• Wastes precious time - I do more amputation surgeries due to diabetes than any other cause. 

I’ve seen people follow oversimplified advice, get frustrated when it doesn’t work, and then feel like they’ve failed.

But the truth is, They did nothing wrong. The advice they believed was wrong.

Why Are Influencers Oversimplifying Health?

Why do they do it? Why not just tell the whole story?

Because:

• Details are boring → They don’t get clicks.

• Complex ideas are hard to understand → It takes time and effort to explain them.

• No one has the patience for long explanations → People scroll away.

• Nuance isn’t shareable → Simple, extreme ideas go viral.

• It’s bad for business → If the truth is complex, it won’t sell.

Basically, oversimplification sells.

And that’s why they do it.

Why Doctors and Influencers Aren’t the Same

I’m not saying all influencers are bad.
Some genuinely want to help.
But there’s a big difference between a doctor’s advice and a catchy health tip.

As doctors, we spend years learning about the human body. From textbooks to dissection halls. From wards to clinics and the operating room, we eat breathe and sleep diseases, symptoms and treatments. 

I practice what I preach in daily life, you can come to my opd with your concern and I will try my best to help you. I can still be found if the advice does not help, I can provide alternate treatments or refer you to a better specialist. 

I understand how complex it is—how different factors interact, how every small personal detail plays a role, and how no two people are the same.

That’s why my advice is never one-size-fits-all.

On the other hand, most influencers are good at packaging health advice attractively but have not done the hard work necessary to understand the flaws of their own advice. 

They simplify things to make it easier to understand… and more likely to go viral.
But in the process, they lose the nuance.

And when the nuance is gone, you get fast food equivalent of health advice that can hurt more than help.

• The influencer makes money → From sponsorships and ads.

• The social media platform makes money → From engagement and ad revenue.

• Investors make money → Because the platform keeps growing.

And who loses? You.

And unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens on social media.

 How to Get Back to the Nuance

So, how do we fix this?
How do we get back to appreciating the full picture?
Here are a few things that help me:

• Ask “In what context?” - What works for one person might not work for you.

• Look for multiple sources - Don’t rely on one influencer’s take. Check credible experts.

• Learn to live with uncertainty - Health science is constantly evolving. It’s okay not to have all the answers.

• Focus on the long term - Real health isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about sustainable habits.

• Focus on the basics - most of us just need to balance out the 4 main pillars of health, Diet, Exercise, Sleep and Mental health. All the other details are just noise (for most of us)

• Seek Professional help - go to the boring people and pay them money to tell you why the free hot tips are not working. Acting stingy can cut your lifespan in today's day and age. Good health guidance always has a positive return on investment. 

I know it’s not as sexy as a 15-second “Do this one thing to lose weight” video.

But it’s the truth. And in the long run, the truth is worth it.

Real health is complicated. And it’s worth the effort to understand it, for the sake of your life, literally. 

So next time you see a viral health tip, pause and ask: What’s the nuance? Am I seeing an advertisement? What is missing? Show me the meat..!!

the only way to truly take control of your health is by understanding its complexity—one detail at a time.

Thanks for reading. 

And hey, if this got you thinking, feel free to share it.

Maybe we can start a movement to bring nuance back to our health.

Dr. Vishal.