As we kick off the new year, it's time to take a critical look at the wellness trends that are worth embracing and those that are mostly hype. The team at NPR's science desk has done the hard work of sifting through the endless products and practices promoted under the banner of "wellness" to uncover what the data and experts really say.
The Hits: A Return to Full-Fat Dairy
For decades, we've been told to steer clear of high-fat dairy, but a growing body of evidence suggests that advice may have been misguided. As NPR reports, a recent evidence review by Canadian food scientist Benoit LaMarche found that full-fat, low-fat, and fat-free dairy products have similar effects. In fact, some studies have even shown benefits to higher-fat dairy, like one that found whole milk outperformed skim milk in raising HDL ("good") cholesterol.
The bigger picture here is that we may have been too narrowly focused on fat content, when the real culprits in our diets are things like excess salt, refined carbs, and added sugars. With this new perspective, a return to full-fat dairy doesn't seem like such a bad idea after all.
The Miss: Weighted Vest Workouts
Another trend that's been making the rounds is wearing a weighted vest during exercise, especially walking. Proponents claim it can improve posture, aid weight loss, and even build bone and muscle strength. But as NPR's reporting shows, the research just doesn't back up those lofty promises.
"All physical activity is good, so I don't want to demonize anything that is going to make people more active," says Lauren Colenso-Semple, an exercise science researcher at McMaster University. "However, a lot of the marketing that promotes walking with a weighted vest promises results for bones and muscles, and then when we actually look at the data, it really doesn't support the use for that."
In other words, while weighted vests may provide a tougher workout, the benefits to bone density and muscle strength are simply not there based on the current evidence. Stick to more proven strength training methods if those are your goals.
What's Next in Wellness?
As we look ahead to the rest of 2026, a few other wellness trends are worth keeping an eye on. Recent analysis suggests women's health and neurowellness will be major focal points, while forecasts indicate some bold shifts are on the horizon for the $4.5 trillion global wellness industry.
No matter what new fads emerge, the key is to approach them with a critical eye and focus on evidence-based practices that truly support your overall health and wellbeing. As medical breakthroughs have shown, sometimes the answers we need have been right in front of us all along.