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RISE Blog | Fact or Fiction?: Discovering if Health Trends Actually Work

Written By: Ashliegh Rigtrup, Peer Educator
Edited By: Audrey Hudson & Elizabeth Perry
November 15th, 2024

Over the past 5 years, there has been controversy with different health trends debating whether they work or not. Some of these trends include different types of diets, medication/supplements, exercise plans, and even skincare. Social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram have been successful in promoting these different trends, but we are here to discover if they actually work and if they are healthy for you. So come join me as we discover whether these fads are a source of fact or fiction. 

Most of us have heard about these different health trends, or “fads”, from the internet. Some of the most popular today include the “75 Hard challenge”, juicing, taking Ozempic, and using snail mucin. Let’s start off with the basic question of “what exactly are they?”. 

  • 75 Hard Challenge: This trend became very popular on TikTok in 2020. This challenge includes pushing yourself for 75 days with simple rules (Peters 2024). The rules are: you cannot skip a day or else you have to start over, pick a diet that is right for you without any alcohol or cheat meals, drink at least a gallon of water a day, complete 2 daily workouts, read 10 pages of a nonfiction book, and take a progress photo every day. Overall, this challenge is supposed to be intense and, as is implied by the name, it’s supposed to be hard. 
  • Juicing or Juice Cleanse: Drinking only juice for a short period of time to make up for the less healthy food that you might have had in the days before. It can give you short-term results, but is it better for your body in the long run?
  • Ozempic: This prescription drug was created for people with Type 2 Diabetes but can also cause significant weight loss for those without this long term diagnosis. It’s not intended for short term weight-loss and is supposed to be specifically for people who have this form of diabetes. 
  • Snail Mucin: This skincare product comes from snails and is supposedly good for keeping your face moisturized and reducing the risk of having acne.  

Now, the next questions we should ask are “do these trends actually work?” and more importantly, “Are they healthy for you?” Let’s dive deeper to find out together. When it comes to figuring out if you should try any of these, always remember to do what’s best for you and always follow what your healthcare providers suggest. 

Fact

Whether you’re starting to, already participating, or thinking about participating in any health trends in the future, there are important things you should consider. 

First, these trends will not have noticeable effects overnight. Like almost anything, it takes time, effort, and commitment before you start noticing results. If you’re passionate about it and it’s healthy for you, then you could start seeing minimal results in your day-to-day life. People who take Ozempic or go on a “juice-cleanse” want to see results immediately, but unfortunately that’s not a realistic expectation. 

Next, not everyone can take part in these fads. Most of the time it’s because they simply aren’t made to fit the person’s body or health situation. Other times it’s because it could potentially add stress to your mental/physical health. The last thing you want is to turn something that was okay into something worse. 

Lastly, if you can’t finish what you started or find yourself unsuccessful, pause and take a deep breath because it’s perfectly fine. You have the power to choose what your limits are, and no one should shame you or make you feel embarrassed for it. If someone does, think about reevaluating that friendship as they might be hindering your success instead of helping you.    

I hate to say it, but none of us are perfect. Our imperfections are what make us human. Failing or not remembering to do something is completely okay in the long term, if you try again. We encourage you to try the latest trends if they are safe and you want to, but if you don’t like it, get rid of it and move on. 

Fiction

Now getting to the part that you’re here for (well, kind of). 

If you’re consistent, you will eventually see results, it comes with time. As I mentioned before, time is the only thing that will show you if what you’re working on is helping you achieve your goals. Pushing yourself to the point where you no longer find enjoyment in the process is going to hurt you instead of helping you. Once again, figuring out what works best for you is going to take commitment whether that’s time, money, or effort. It’s up to you whether or not you want to fully commit to the task at hand. Once you do figure it out, it will most likely get easier from there. 

Now that we got some of our facts straight, let’s think about the real reason you might want to participate in these trends. Is it for you and your wants/needs, or is it because you feel left out when you don’t try them out? 

Getting into the deep stuff

Let me take a second to tell you that I’m proud of you. Whether you’re struggling with insecurities or you’re just trying to figure out what to do, you’re doing such a good job. Figuring out what you and your body need is not the easiest thing in the world. Sometimes our insecurities stem from a deeper part of us that wants to better ourselves. Insecurities are normal, whether you have them or not. 

It’s also important to remind yourself why you might be partaking in one of these fads. The biggest question to ask yourself is “Am I doing this for myself or am I doing this because of how I want people to see me?” Taking care of and being kind to yourself is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Additionally, keep in mind that some health trends can be dangerous to take part in and might negatively weigh on your mental and/or physical health. If you’re ever unsure, talk to a professional and then make your decision from there. 

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember to be true to you and your needs. 

Being true to YOU 

Woah! Look at that, the answer to your question and you didn’t even have to search too far to find it! One of the best things that you can do to take care of yourself is focus on YOUR needs and not the needs of others. It may be hard to hear, but most people on TikTok or Instagram say that these trends work because in reality it is a PAID ADVERTISMENT. They are quite literally getting paid to tell you that it works when it might not. If you’re really interested in a health trend, do some research about it and see if it’s something that you’ll be able to healthily participate in. Now, if it’s a real concern about your health, try consulting your healthcare provider(s) to see what’s best for you. While you’re pinpointing parts of your life that might need help, remind yourself that everyone has insecurities and that’s okay, try not to be too hard on yourself.

The biggest point I want you to take away from everything you just read is that whatever you do, whether you choose to join in on these trends or not, make sure you’re doing what’s best for you. Your personal health and well-being are more important than what anyone else thinks about you. 

The results are in! 

Since you’ve made it this far, let’s dive into the success rates of these trends!

  • 75 Hard: 1,000,000 people have tried this challenge and have seen results. That’s about .01% of the world’s population. So yes, it does work for SOME people but that does not mean it’s going to necessarily work for you.
  • Juicing: About 25.6% of people saw results over a span of 3 days. We recommend you be careful because it’s not one of the most nutritious weight-loss plans. However, doctors have said that it would be better to eat nutritious and whole foods because the juices end up making the inside of your body less usable and can cause more health problems in the future (Pasricha 2024). It’s important to consult your healthcare provider before you try this method for yourself.
  • Ozempic: Out of 800 people, 86.2% saw weight-loss results over 68 weeks. One problem with this drug is people are using it for a weight-loss medication, which it’s not. This misuse makes it harder for people with diabetes to get the medication that they need. Also Dr. Butsch from the Cleveland Clinic highly recommends not using it if you do not have Type 2 Diabetes. He suggests that if you have a concern about your weight then you should consider talking to your healthcare provider about a long-term medication that’s healthy for your body.
  • Snail Mucin: It works, but at what cost? Snail mucus is not a cruelty free product. To get the product itself, snails are put through dangerous conditions that eventually lead them to die because they can no longer produce what’s needed for themselves.

The overall success rate for anyone trying these trends varies from person to person so what works for you might not work for someone else. Again, even though we have said it already, talk to your healthcare provider and ask if these options are right for you.

Words of advice

Now, we know you’re probably sitting here and thinking “well none of this actually told me which trend I should try, and which ones actually work”, and you’re right. That’s because you have to make that decision for yourself and figure out what works best for you. 

If you can’t get through the first week of 75 Hard, then look for something that will bring you more peace instead of stress. If a skincare product isn’t working for you like it’s for someone else, try seeing a dermatologist for some advice because your skin might be different than theirs. Every person is a unique individual with personal needs that can’t always be fulfilled by something someone else tells us. 

There is only one trend that I can guarantee will work 100% of the time for EVERYBODY and that’s to drink water! Take care of yourself and always remember that you can reach out to us at RISE whenever you need.

Resources

References

Cleaveland Clinic. (2024). Ozempic for Weight Loss: Who Should Try It and Will It Work?.  

Godkin, S. (2021). How to Deal With and Overcome Your Insecurities. The Happiness Doctor.   

Mayer, B. A. (2024). Ozempic: 5 Reasons People Don’t Lose Weight on GLP-1 Drugs. Healthline. 

Nelson, C. (2023). The Truth About Snail Mucin for Skin Care. Mayo Clinic. 

Pasricha, T. (2024). Should I Try Supplements, Colonics or Juicing? What the Science Says. The Washington Post. 

Peters, T., Duncan T. A., and Siclait A. (2024). What is 75 Hard? The ‘Mental Toughness’ Program is Delivering Drastic Results — but is it Safe?. Today

Sillitoe H. (2021). Juice cleanse report 2021. Hanna Sillitoe.

Weathermon, C. (2024). Fifty Years of Health Fads. Sun Valley Magazine. 

 

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