The Wellness Influencer and the Surgeon General Role

Dr. Casey Means, a prominent figure in the wellness industry, has been chosen by President Donald Trump to become the U. S. Surgeon General. She has repeatedly criticized the medical and food industries for being driven by profit rather than public health. However, her own business dealings raise questions about potential conflicts of interest. She has promoted numerous products, earning money through affiliate marketing and partnerships. This has led to concerns about her ability to provide unbiased health information as Surgeon General. Means, 37, has a medical degree from Stanford University. She left her residency program in 2018 and her medical license is inactive. She turned to alternative health approaches, focusing on nutrition and the dangers of ultra-processed foods. She co-founded Levels, a wellness app that tracks nutrition, sleep, and exercise, and provides insights from blood tests. The app costs $199 per year, with an additional $184 per month for glucose monitors. The use of continuous glucose monitors is debated among scientists, but U. S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has supported their use. Means has a significant online presence, with over 825, 000 Instagram followers and a newsletter reaching 200, 000 subscribers. She uses affiliate marketing to promote various products, including books, beauty items, and fitness trackers. Many companies, like Amazon, offer affiliate programs where influencers earn a percentage of sales through special links. Means has shared links to products on Amazon and other sites, sometimes without disclosing her financial connections. The Federal Trade Commission requires influencers to disclose any financial relationships when endorsing products. However, Means has not always been consistent in her disclosures. For example, she promoted Function Health, a subscription-based lab testing service, without always revealing her investment in the company. Experts argue that she should disclose any material connections each time she promotes a product. Past Surgeon Generals have faced questions about their financial ties, leading to divestments or recusal from related matters. Means has not yet gone through a Senate confirmation hearing, and her ethical commitments for the role remain unclear. As influencer marketing becomes more common, it raises ethical questions about potential conflicts of interest. The public needs to trust the Surgeon General to provide unbiased health information. Should we be worried about the conflicts of interest?