ARE VIRAL WORKOUTS REALLY WORKING?

Celebrity endorsements and viral videos make every fitness trend look revolutionary. But which ones are backed by science, and which are just cleverly marketed fads? We investigate the most popular wellness movements to help you separate legitimate breakthroughs from hype

- By Ravi Raj

When Arjun Kapoor credits IV vitamin infusions for his energy levels, Kendall Jenner posts about her latest IV drip session or Salma Hayek swears by red-light therapy for her glowing skin, millions of followers take note. Suddenly, what was once the domain of elite athletes or experimental clinics becomes the next must-try wellness hack.

This is how fitness trends are born now—not in gyms or research labs, but in the carefully curated feeds of Instagram and TikTok, powered by algorithms that know exactly what will make you stop scrolling. You might dismiss your grandmother's ancient wisdom about morning walks and eating your vegetables, but a thirty-second reel from a popular influencer? That'll have you convinced to try ice baths at dawn or strap electrodes to your abs.

Each trend arrives with its own gospel, its own devoted following, and its own set of extraordinary claims. But here's the uncomfortable truth: not everything that goes viral is valid, and not every fitness revolution deserves that title. The line between legitimate scientific breakthrough and cleverly marketed fad has never been more blurred. So how do we separate signal from noise? Which trends actually move fitness science forward, and which are merely well-marketed distractions designed to separate you from your money? We've compiled a list of the most popular fitness trends of recent times and asked the experts to help us uncover the science—and the myth—behind them.

Trend 1: Cold-Water Immersion: Is Cold Plunging The Solution?