Biohacking has become a major industry, with many people tracking heart rates, improving sleep scores and increasing plant intake to live better for longer. However, experts warn that the obsession with expensive technology and self-optimisation may be widening the health gap between socioeconomic groups.
Research, including a 2021 study in the journal The Society for Social Medicine and Population Health, shows that socioeconomic status significantly impacts life expectancy. Meanwhile, studies from Springer Nature Link highlight that small lifestyle tweaks can offer greater health and longevity benefits than costly biohacking methods.
Dr Mohammed Enayat, GP and founder of the London Longevity Clinic HUM2N, emphasises that longevity is about extending healthspan—the years spent feeling healthy and energetic—rather than simply lifespan. He notes a shift towards prevention and simple daily rituals over gimmicks.
“The habits with the greatest impact on long-term health are often the simplest and most consistent,” says Dr Enayat. He compares daily actions to financial savings, where small, repeated efforts compound over time to influence inflammation, blood sugar regulation, sleep quality and cellular ageing.
Ada Ooi, integrative Chinese medicine practitioner and founder of 001 London, agrees that consistency matters more than intensity. “One ice bath does very little. A daily practice that calms the nervous system and supports circulation does a great deal over months and years,” she explains.
