Why “Wellness” Has Become a Marketing Scam (And How to Break Free)

By Dr. Stacie Stephenson

Let me say the quiet part out loud: the wellness industry doesn’t actually want you well.

I know that sounds harsh, but I’ve watched it happen over the last two decades—what started as a movement to empower people has become a billion-dollar machine selling confusion, quick fixes, and curated aesthetics.

And women? We’re the primary target.

You’re bombarded with messages:
Drink this. Cut that. Meditate more. Fast longer. Buy this supplement. Don’t eat after 8pm. Don’t eat before 10am.
No wonder you feel like you’re failing—you were set up to.

The Rise of “Insta-Wellness”
Wellness has been turned into an aesthetic—smoothie bowls, bath rituals, collagen powders in frosted glasses. And while there’s nothing wrong with those things, they’ve replaced the actual foundation of health: consistency, simplicity, and truth.
You’re not unwell because you’re missing a mushroom latte.
You’re unwell because your body is overloaded, undernourished, and not being listened to.

Why This Industry Thrives on Your Confusion
Here’s what no one wants to admit: if you knew what actually worked, you’d stop spending money on band-aid solutions.
So instead of teaching root causes, the industry teaches trends.
● Gut health? They’ll sell you probiotics—without telling you to stop eating the food that’s damaging your gut in the first place.
● Hormone balance? They’ll push hormone-support powders—without addressing your blood sugar or inflammatory load.
● Energy? Try another adrenal supplement—no mention of sleep, stress, or nutrient depletion.

It’s not always intentional. But it’s profitable.

And we’ve confused consumption with healing.

So What Actually Works?
This is where I want you to take your power back.

Wellness isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing less—but doing it with intention and integrity.

1. Start with food – Real food. Anti-inflammatory. Ingredients you recognize. Not the trendy ones—just the ones that nourish.
2. Fix your rhythm – Your body craves consistency. Stop skipping meals. Go to bed earlier. Walk every day.
3. Get quiet – Your body is speaking. But if you never pause long enough to listen, you’ll keep outsourcing wisdom that already lives inside you.
4. Focus on foundations – Breath. Sleep. Hydration. Light. Movement. The free things that no one profits from—but that actually heal.
5. Question everything – Even me. Especially me. If it doesn’t make sense to your body or your spirit, don’t buy it.

You were never broken. You’ve just been marketed to in a way that made you believe you were.
Wellness isn’t a luxury—it’s your birthright. But you have to unplug from the noise to hear what your body actually needs.

And it’s probably a lot simpler than you’ve been told.