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The dark side of the ultra-rich’s anti-aging pursuit
Jan Gerber, founder of the Swiss psychology clinic Paracelsus Recovery, says an increasing number of entrepreneurs are seeking help for an intense fear of aging, which he describes as “longevity fixation syndrome,” theNew York Post reported
“They can buy almost anything, but they cannot buy more time,” Gerber says
At first, these individuals focus on healthy eating and regular exercise. Over time, however, they become obsessed with optimizing every aspect of their health, he adds
They spend hours daily reviewing data from smartwatches, health-tracking rings, and continuous glucose monitors while taking supplements and experimenting with longevity treatments
Ironically, habits intended to improve health often leave them more stressed. Many decline family gatherings and cancel plans with friends to adhere strictly to their diets and workout schedules, so much so that, slowly, their lives become dominated by their self-imposed rules. Gerber says many clients end up feeling lonely, sleep-deprived, exhausted, anxious, or depressed
“If they miss a workout or fail to get enough sleep, they feel guilty because they believe they are damaging their future.”
For some wealthy individuals, the pursuit of a longer and healthier life has become a |
Dr. Jordan Shlain, founder of the U.S. healthcare network Private Medical, has observed a similar pattern among affluent clients
Rather than enjoying life, they spend their time tracking every meal, monitoring health metrics and worrying about diseases they do not yet have
Doctors have even reported health problems linked to extreme longevity practices: like kidney damage from excessive supplement use, hormonal imbalances, metabolic dysfunction caused by prolonged fasting, and injuries from overtraining
Shlain says the booming longevity industry contributes to the problem by marketing fear of aging and promoting self-optimization as the solution, encouraging vulnerable individuals to take increasingly extreme measures
