The Culture of Quick Fixes

We live in a time where “things” define us, supplements, fads, biohacks, and shortcuts. We chase longevity through the latest pill or powder while ignoring the foundations of health: balance, consistency, and responsibility. We’ve replaced effort with expectation and turned wellness into a commodity, not a commitment.

Social media fuels the fire. It’s a never-ending stream of misinformation, half-truths, and political takes. Opinions are flung faster than facts can be verified. The louder the voice, the more likely it's heard, regardless of whether it’s right. When does this insanity end? When we no longer value education? When algorithms win over expertise?

In healthcare, things aren’t perfect. Patients wait. Diagnoses are missed. Tragedies happen. And yes, those are the stories that make headlines. But the truth, the quieter truth, is that the majority of people receive good care from providers doing their best with the resources they have.

Let’s be clear: hospital billing is not controlled by doctors. We don’t get kickbacks for prescribing medications or administering vaccines. Are there bonuses in some healthcare systems? Sure. But for most of us practicing medicine, those financial structures don’t change how we care for people. They don’t make us push medications or deliver subpar care.

Take childhood vaccinations, for example. They’ve been studied extensively and proven safe. Vaccine injuries are rare. The CDC defines a vaccine injury as a serious adverse event, and they occur in only about 1 in a million doses. (BUT WE KNOW PEOPLE DONT TRUST THE CDC EITHER, GET REAL PEOPLE!). The amount of mercury (in the form of ethylmercury, which is processed differently than the harmful methylmercury found in some fish) in modern vaccines is minuscule, less than what you’d consume from a tuna sandwich.

And still, the irony persists. People refuse the MMR vaccine but bring their unvaccinated child to a crowded clinic for their own appointment, possibly to pick up the latest weight loss medication. They lose weight quickly, mostly from muscle mass, then regain it and blame the food supply and healthcare system. Bye Bye body positivity movement from before 2024. Size does not equate to health. It never has and it never will. I have plenty of patients with a higher BMI who are healthier than some of my bean pole patients. 

Why am I cynical about weight loss meds, because 80–95% of people regain the weight they lose from weight loss medications if they stop taking them and don’t adopt long-term lifestyle changes (Rubino et al., 2021). Even with healthcoaching those people until I'm blue in the face, I see it day in and day out. 

To be clear, some individuals do benefit tremendously from weight loss meds. A small percentage make lasting lifestyle changes. For them, it’s a powerful tool. But it’s not magic. It’s not effortless. It’s not for everyone. I am so proud of those people who make that permanent change. 

BUT in reality - we have more control than we admit.

We control what food enters our homes. We control whether we swing through a fast-food drive-thru or cook at home. Despite popular belief, it’s cheaper to eat healthy. For example, a family of four grabbing fast food can easily spend $28–$40 per meal. Meanwhile, grilled chicken, a bag of frozen broccoli, and a side of rice or potatoes can feed the same family for about $12–$15—and you’ll have leftovers.

Processed foods and sedentary screen time fuel inflammation, disrupt sleep, spike anxiety, and worsen depression, creating a vicious cycle of emotional and physical decline. Instead of addressing the root causes of stress or sadness, people numb themselves with choices that make them sicker. What’s worse is the cultural normalization of these habits, often disguised as self-care on social media, where excuses are echoed and applauded in posts that glorify binge-eating, “doom scrolling,” and skipping movement in the name of “mental health.” It's not judgment, it's concern. We’re collectively validating the behaviors that are slowly breaking us down, and calling it balance. EXCUSES, there is no other word for this. 

Walking is free. Online workouts and meal plans are widely available, for free. Most of us have the time. 

At the end of the day, people need to think twice, even three times, about where they’re getting their information before repeating it. Ask questions. Seek out professionals - real ones not fitness influencers. (if a Dr is "debunking" modern medicine to sell a supplement they do not have your best interest at heart either). Verify before you share. Misinformation has real-world consequences.

I say this because I care and because I'm genuinely curious where my place as an educated healthcare provider stands if we continue on this path. As a fitness lover, an avid runner, and a healthcare provider and health coach, I want the best for people. I want a future where we’re thriving—not just surviving. Where we’re not just reacting, but growing.

So let’s be smarter. Kinder. More discerning. As the saying goes, "Don’t trade what you want most for what you want now." Our best lives start with better choices—today, tomorrow, and for the future.