As the world undergoes rapid socio-cultural and socio-economic transformation, it is perhaps witnessing an unprecedented momentum. The reason for this momentum is primarily that individuals freely share information via social media channels without needing any approval, and as a result, the accessibility of information, whether true or false, has reached its highest point in world history. In addition to social media, AI-based applications and search engines, which have easily entered individual lives over the past 3-4 years, have also contributed significantly to this.

All these developments point to a growing awareness of the need to research, try new things, and seek meaning in life in order to live better and feel better.

It is precisely at this point that the concepts of wellbeing and wellness emerge as two of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. Therefore, in this article, I would like to briefly review the main drivers of these industries with you.

First of all, since these two terms are often confused with each other, I think it would be useful to explain them.

What is Wellbeing?

In today's fast-paced world, our mental and emotional health is just as important as our physical health. This is precisely where the concept of “wellbeing” comes in. Wellbeing is a term that refers to an individual's overall quality of life and satisfaction. It encompasses a balance of physical, mental, emotional, and social components and relates to how a person feels in the main areas that shape their life.

The term wellbeing refers to daily choices that create balance in the three main bodies that humans possess: the physical, mental, and spiritual bodies, as well as Career, which is included in the Wellbeing Survey published by GALLUP in 2010 and representing 98% of the world's population. Financial, Social, and Environmental Life, which was published by GALLUP in 2010 and represents 98% of the world's population. It is a comprehensive term that encompasses all wellness and preventive medicine practices.

According to data published in February 2021 by TIME magazine's 2030 Committee, the 2021-2030 period will determine whether the planet is suitable for human settlement, and the six main pillars that will save the planet and all humanity during this period are innovation, equality, sustainability, economy, leadership, and wellbeing.

What is Wellness?

Wellness is a module under the umbrella term of wellbeing and generally includes exercise, nutrition, and spa treatments that cover physical health. However, I should note that mental wellness has also been included in the scope of the wellness term for the last years, and it now encompasses also emotional and mental balance.

When listing the most prominent topics in the wellbeing and wellness sectors, we see that the widest range of products is offered in the market in these 8 main categories:

1. Quality Sleep

2. Functional Nutrition

3. Exercise

4. Weight Loss

5. Beauty

6. Stress Management: Mindfulness (Although the industry associates the term mindfulness only with stress management and mental and emotional balance, the term mindfulness actually encompasses every fundamental pillar of life that falls within self-awareness)

7. Mental and Emotional Health

8. Healthy Life Span : Longevity & Wellaging (Although this item encompasses all of the above, there are a few brands that use this heading to offer a wider range of products and services)

 

Products offered in the global market in these categories can be classified into 4 general categories:

I. Various plant- and animal-based food and nutritional supplements taken externally and internally

II. Technological bio-hacking products

III. Wellness Tourism

IV. AI-based general and personalized applications

 

In 2024, the Global Wellness Economy Monitor stated that the health economy peaked at $6.3 trillion in 2023 and is expected to reach approximately $9 trillion by 2028. McKinsey's latest study on the global wellness market in 2025, titled “The Future of Wellness,” focuses on six prominent categories: health, sleep, nutrition, fitness, beauty, and mindfulness. The reason for this is the growing interest of global investors in these six categories, as well as the numerous mergers and acquisitions taking place in these areas. Two main ideas stand out in this study, which analyzed more than 9,000 consumers in China, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States:

Ø Young consumers are conceptualizing health in new ways.

Ø Health is emerging in new areas.

According to this report, especially for Generation Y (those born between 1981 and 1996) and Generation Z (those born between 1990 and 2010), health is no longer a series of occasional activities or purchases, but has become a personalized daily practice. Although the young demographic groups known as Generation Z are driving the wellness industry forward, Generation Y, who are older consumers, are beginning to show more interest in the expanding definition of wellness and adapting it to their lifestyles.

Demand for wellness is estimated to be growing at a rate of 4% to 5% annually and appears to be becoming more important to consumers than ever before. In the wellness sector, which exceeds $500 billion in annual spending in the United States alone, 84% of US consumers say healthy living is a “top priority” or “important priority.” In the UK, this figure is 79%, and in China, it rises to 94%.

The study found that younger generations are increasingly prioritizing healthy living, with approximately 30% of the Z generation (those born between 1997 and 2012) and Y generation (born between 1981 and 1996) report prioritizing healthy living “much more” than a year ago, compared to 23% of older generations.

And of course, I'm not surprised by this conclusion:

Generation Z placed “better appearance” in third place, while Generation Y placed greater importance on traditional practices that promote awareness of life, namely mindfulness, meditation, breathing techniques, and conscious choices.

After these statistics, I would like to address the question of how rapidly evolving technology can support wellbeing in human life.

 

Can technology support a healthier, more conscious, and even socially fulfilling life?

First, Artificial Intelligence has rapidly entered our lives, providing significant benefits in the healthcare sector, particularly in the following categories:

► Physical Health: Personalized Healthcare Services (artificial organ and limb production, longevity, etc.)

► Mental Health: Psychological Counseling, Stress Management, and Quality Sleep Applications

► Education: Although not yet very developed, personalized specific counseling and training with Health Coach applications

The intersection of artificial intelligence and healthy living is a vast field offering new opportunities for personalized care and support. These technologies provide effective tools for improving physical and mental wellbeing, such as offering guidance on mindfulness practices, tracking health metrics, creating engaging, interactive experiences that encourage mindfulness and self-care, or providing educational resources, and this supply and demand will continue to grow every day. For example, AI can already help monitor stress levels through biometric data and suggest meditation apps or breathing exercises tailored to real-time needs.

The use of artificial intelligence as a health coach clearly reflects the growing trend toward making healthy living more accessible and tailored to individual needs.

At this point, it is crucial for consumers to be very careful and to adopt a sensible approach. When used consciously, such applications can supply demand; at this point, artificial intelligence can complement traditional practices by providing reminders and suggestions that enhance and sustain your well-being.

But we must never forget: We are not machines, we are holographic beings as humans, and the wisdom of healthy living is hidden within us!

With this in mind, it is very important to know who developed the Personal Development and Holistic Health applications you plan to use for support and for what purpose.

Technology can guide us and provide improvement, but true transformation is a deeply personal journey that requires dedicated work. Through regular meditation and all kinds of mindfulness practices, such as pranayama breathing exercises based on the science of yoga, all people can access their own inner guidance mechanism and choose the path that is right for them through this inner guidance.

It is undoubtedly very important to be informed about such technological developments and to engage with them in a way that is compatible with our values and needs; we should definitely benefit from the blessings that technology brings. However, when choosing AI-based health applications for support, you should select applications developed by companies that not only prioritize technological advancement but also emphasize ethical values, with content and guidance mechanisms created by reputable experts.

 

Personally, in projects from Turkey where I have been asked to consult on such applications, I have often witnessed that the concepts are flawed from start to finish because the developers have almost no idea or know-how about the concept of holistic health.

As a result, as AI continues to evolve, wellness applications will also expand and offer innovative ways to support and improve our holistic health and well-being. Our task, as the world rapidly changes, is to take care of our bodies and minds, our primary responsibility as human beings, and to take safe and sustainable steps on our journey of endless discovery.

 

Ebru Sinik | President of the Wellbeing Asssociation