FAQ
What is Factual Wellness?
Factual Wellness combines journalism-style fact-checking with academic-level research packaged in an easy-to-read format. It's written by a PhD candidate and scholar as an unbiased source of wellness information to counterbalance the oceanic volume of books, courses, and content from wellness "experts" and influencers.
Factual Wellness isn't yet another expert. This project is about asking questions, applying critical thinking, and fact-checking advice from influencers, authors, and experts. It's written as a service journalism resource for those typically targeted by wellness marketing:
- People with chronic illness
- People with disabilities
- People with food allergies
- People who are seeking health for hormones, reproductive health, and aging
- People concerned about immune wellness and brain health
- People who have food restrictions or are concerned about food quality
It also provides accountability journalism, asking questions about ethics and practices in niche wellness that are often overlooked by mainstream journalism outlets but have direct, daily impacts in the lives of people with chronic and complex health needs.
Desperation should not be leveraged to drive profits, but that's a common practice. Most science writers dismiss the entire industry because of this.
Factual Wellness forefronts nuanced reporting and a commitment to finding truth in wellness.
Who writes Factual Wellness?
Factual Wellness is written by Mia McNew, MS, a nutrition PhD candidate whose research examines perceptions and practices from people who market cures and programs for chronic illness and disability. Mia's work also explores cultural and social perspectives about chronic illness, disability, and autoimmune disease.
MS, autoimmunity, and chronic disease are favorite targets for the wellness industry. Mia wants to bring clarity to the claims to empower individuals and to ensure they receive ethical, evidence-based info.
Many myth-busting sites or science experts who want to bring clarity to the field of wellness do so by writing off the industry entirely. But that's not feasible (or wanted) by many who navigate chronic conditions, disabilities, or want to be proactive with their health.
Many of us exist in the middle ground. We need nuance in health and wellness conversations. While the wellness industry might leave more to be desired, wellness as a practice is often a vital part for supporting our quality of life.
But we need to differentiate between the industry and the practice, and we need to erase the blurred lines between education and marketing. Mia's work will support everyday wellness desires by promoting clarity, evidence, and education that is free from industry bias on all sides.
Most of us don't want to pick a side. We want the information that meets our needs in the moment. Much of the time this means taking a blended approach. We utilize traditional healthcare and we may also rely on some complementary or alternative practices. But we care about knowing what's true from actual evidence, not just from those who are selling products or building a particular wellness brand.
Nuance and perspective must guide the conversation about what it means to be well. Someone else's ideas shouldn't define your view of wellness—that's the beauty and complexity of being human.
Factual Wellness will report on wellness topics, including diets, supplements, influencers, authors, books, programs, concepts, and more. However, this project is unapologetically written from a perspective that embraces nuance and empathy, refutes shame and stigma, and subverts dominant societal points of view. It defers to the lived experiences and wisdom of those who aren't inherently in control of the power dynamics that lead healthcare or wellness industries but, rather, to those who may be exploited by them.
Who writes Factual Wellness?
Learn more about the writer and founder of Factual Wellness.
How is Factual Wellness funded?
Factual Wellness receives no wellness industry funding. It is supported by individual donations from readers and philanthropic contributions, donations, grants, and similar gifts.
Financial contributors do not influence editorial content.
Who should subscribe?
Factual Wellness is for everyone but may resonate more with people who manage chronic or autoimmune conditions, identify as marginalized/minority, are disabled, or who've felt shamed, stigmatized, or rejected by healthcare, wellness, or both.
Healthcare providers or wellness practitioners are encouraged to hold multiple perspectives, including those that may challenge their personal experiences and perceptions of patients.
Does AI write your stories?
No, AI is not responsible for the research, conceptualization, editorial, fact-checking, or publishing for Factual Wellness. We believe that human critical thinking is invaluable. AI has its uses, but replacing humans in the journalism and editorial process isn't one of them.