New research has revealed that middle-aged men are increasingly turning to unproven online wellness trends in a bid to enhance their sexual potency.
The study discovered that British men over the age of 35 spend more than £2 billion annually on wellness products, services, and advice influenced by social media.
Almost half (42%) view wellness content more than once a day, with the most visited topics being fitness workouts (53%), supplements (41%), mental health practices (39%), and weight loss or fat burning products (36%).
The research, conducted by healthcare company Voy, also unveiled the top five wellness trends, with vitamins (59%) leading the pack, followed by performance and muscle-strength supplement creatine (26%) and cold plunges (22%).
Nearly half of men have tried trends after spotting them on social media.
A significant portion of the interest in wellness advice is driven by men seeking tips on improving sexual wellbeing (45%), surpassing those looking to improve sleep quality (38%), increase energy levels (31%), or reduce stress (30%).
However, medical professionals have issued warnings about the unregulated and unproven nature of online wellness content, stating that many men are receiving poor advice that exploits their insecurities.
Dr Jeff Foster, NHS GP and Director of Men’s Health at Voy, said: “Men are bombarded with wellness advice on social media every day, from the nutritional supplement shilajit to cold plunges to testosterone-boosting foods. The problem is, much of it is anecdotal, unregulated, or simply overhyped.”
The research found that 40% of men struggle to determine whether information is scientifically sound, whilst a further 40% think they have been exposed to false information.
Despite concerns about misleading claims, almost half (49%) were unlikely to seek advice from a medical or scientific professional before trying a wellness trend.
The GP cautioned that men looking for health improvements or a bedroom boost should obtain professional guidance before embracing a wellness trend, to prevent being deceived or consuming potentially dangerous unregulated supplements.
“It’s important to know which treatments are evidence-based – such as clinically supervised testosterone replacement therapy – and which are just trending fads without solid research, often promoted through unverified supplements,” he said.
Dr Foster added: “It’s particularly striking to see that almost half of UK men above 35 have tried wellness trends after seeing them on social media, showcasing just how powerful these platforms are at shaping choices, even when the results aren’t guaranteed.”
Men seeking reliable advice on which wellness trends are effective and which are likely to fail can explore Voy’s personalised wellness plans and schedule their first clinical appointment here.
Top 5 wellness trends for men on social media.
1. Vitamins – Nutrients for overall health, immunity, and energy support (59%).
2. Creatine – Performance & muscle-strength supplement (26%).
3. Cold plunges / ice baths – Cold exposure therapy for recovery & alertness (22%).
4. Testosterone-boosting foods – Diet-based hormone support (18%).
5. Hot therapy – Heat treatments for circulation & relaxation (17%).
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
