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Scrolling through social media, you've likely encountered them – charismatic personalities making bold health claims, promising miraculous results, and denouncing mainstream advice. Welcome to the world of health and fitness grifters.

These modern snake oil salesmen have mastered the art of capturing attention in our short-form content world. They make outrageous claims about diet and exercise, often promoting extreme protocols while conveniently selling solutions to problems they've convinced you that you have. From the Liver King's raw organ meat diet (while secretly spending $11,000 monthly on steroids) to influencers filming themselves harassing shoppers in supermarket aisles, these characters profit from controversy and absolutist thinking.

What makes grifters particularly dangerous in the health space? They prey on uncertainty and vulnerability. When someone is desperate to improve their health, lose weight, or fix a medical issue, they become susceptible to anyone who speaks with unwavering confidence. Grifters excel at speaking in absolutes—no nuance, no individual differences, just black and white thinking. The reality is that health is complex and personal, but that doesn't sell supplements or online courses.

The damage extends beyond wasted money. At best, following grifter advice leads to restrictive, unsustainable lifestyles; at worst, it can have serious health consequences when people abandon proven treatments for "natural" alternatives. We've seen followers turn away from conventional medicine with tragic results. Many grifters also serve as gateways to conspiracy theories and alt-right ideologies, using wellness as an entry point to more extreme beliefs.

So how do you protect yourself? Look for red flags: Does the person speak in absolutes? Are they primarily selling something? Do they discourage eating fruits and vegetables? Do they engage in outrageous behavior for views? Most importantly, follow the money—genuine experts rarely need to resort to extreme claims or rage-baiting to establish credibility. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Want more insights like this? Subscribe to The Health Huns and join us in our quest for balance in the messy world of health and fitness. Let's learn together how to spot the grifters and find sustainable approaches to wellbeing.

Sexism in the health and fitness industry creates significant barriers, particularly for women, manifesting in everything from marketing language to funding disparities and objectification in gym spaces. We explore how these systemic issues affect participation and achievement in fitness, and what changes are needed to create more inclusive environments.

• Fitness marketing uses dramatically different language for men ("beast mode," "dominate") versus women ("tone up," "slim down")
• Women athletes and those who train intensely are often unfairly labeled as having disordered behaviours
• Women's sports receive significantly less funding - female footballers earn 90% less than male counterparts
• Many female professional athletes must maintain full-time jobs alongside their sporting careers due to lack of financial support
• Women experience objectification in gym spaces, with fitness apparel designed to sexualise rather than support performance
• Female athletes are held to higher behavioural standards than males, facing harsher criticism for showing competitive aggression
• Solutions include better education for fitness professionals, stronger industry regulation, and redistribution of funding to women's sports

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We explore the messy side of health and fitness, addressing listener questions with honesty, humor, and practical wisdom to help you feel less alone in your journey.

• Health and fitness as a lifelong journey rather than an "on or off" approach
• Women's health myths versus reality and the lack of research in this area
• Practical strategies for managing calf pain while running
• How to mentally handle weight gain without self-sabotage
• Finding the right balance between having quality fitness gear versus essentials
• Realistic expectations for progress when starting out at the gym
• Building fitness communities and finding workout buddies
• Managing motivation through discipline and habit-building
• The importance of lowering expectations to maintain consistency

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on your listening platform, and tag us in your stories. We're planning exciting things including guest episodes, a live show, and a Patreon coming soon!