Celeb driven health trends can be risky

When Katy Perry tweets about her love of supplements, Tom Brady offers science-free diet advice, or Samantha Ruth Prabhu suggests nebulisation for viral illnesses, tens of millions of people see it. Actress Christina Applegate advocates magnetic resonance imaging for early detection; however, the US National Cancer Institute does not recommend such tests for anyone at average risk of breast cancer.

Samantha was called “science illiterate” by Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, “The Liver Doc,” after she suggested hydrogen peroxide nebulisation to treat viral infections. Dr Philips warned that the procedure could be dangerous. She also faced criticism after a video surfaced online accusing her of spreading incorrect information about liver detoxification and the use of herbs for liver wellness. Alia Bhatt recently was embroiled in a controversy after a video went viral claiming she had botched Botox surgery that resulted in facial paralysis. Even though the actress disputed the accusations, Dr Sai Ganapathy, a medical specialist, has publicly discussed Alia’s reported consequences from cosmetic operations. “After seeing her videos, I realised that when she must have gotten the botox done, something might have gone wrong. Sometimes there is a dip movement when she speaks; the lips will be tilted as seen in the video, which I also saw in many videos that people had put up,” posted Dr Sai.

The Spotlight Effect

“Millions of people idolise these celebrities, so even the smallest hint about their beauty regimen or medical procedures can have a significant influence, says Dr Trishna Gupte, founder and owner of the Cosmo-Square clinic at the ISCA Institute. “When a celebrity brings up these topics, fans may feel as though they have permission to try them without fully understanding the consequences. Physicians and other healthcare providers emphasise how crucial it is for public figures to speak honestly and truthfully about the beauty and health options they support,” says Dr Trishna.