The Curious Case of Fad Medical Diagnoses: Stress, Viruses, and Obesity

Medicine is a science, but it's also a product of its time. While human biology doesn’t change overnight, our understanding—and interpretation—of it often does. 

Over the decades, we've seen waves of what can only be described as fad medical diagnoses, where particular conditions become fashionable explanations for a broad spectrum of symptoms. 

At one time, it seemed every illness was caused by stress. Then, viruses took the blame. More recently, obesity has become the go-to culprit. But why do these diagnostic trends happen?

A Brief History of Blame

1. The Stress Epidemic (1970s–1990s)

In the late 20th century, as society became increasingly fast-paced, stress emerged as the catch-all diagnosis. From ulcers to insomnia, palpitations to headaches—everything was explained away as "just stress." While stress does have real physiological effects, its popularity as a blanket diagnosis often masked underlying issues. Mental health was poorly understood, and doctors lacked the tools or time to probe deeper.

2. The Virus Craze (1990s–2010s)

With the rise of better viral testing and media attention on outbreaks like swine flu, SARS, and Epstein-Barr, viruses became the next fashionable explanation. Vague, lingering illnesses like chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia were sometimes attributed to "post-viral" syndromes, even when no clear viral trigger was identified. It was often a medical shrug: "It must’ve been a virus."

3. The Obesity Blame Game (2010s–present)

As obesity levels rose globally and its links to chronic illness became undeniable, it began to overshadow other potential causes. Tired? Breathless? Achy joints? All too often, the patient hears, “Well, you need to lose weight.” 

While obesity is a risk factor for many conditions, the danger of overdiagnosing based on weight is that legitimate, unrelated issues might be missed, or dismissed entirely.

Why Does This Happen?

Time Pressure in Healthcare

Modern medicine often runs on tight schedules. GPs and consultants have limited time, and when a patient presents with nonspecific symptoms, it’s tempting to default to a commonly accepted explanation.

Lack of Diagnostic Certainty

Medicine doesn’t always have clear answers. When faced with a “mystery” illness, especially one that doesn’t fit textbook criteria, clinicians sometimes reach for diagnoses that feel safe, familiar, and broadly accepted.

Media and Public Perception

Popular health scares and media narratives shape both patient and doctor expectations. When stress, viruses, or obesity dominate headlines, they become part of the cultural consciousness—and diagnoses tend to follow.

Bias and Stigma

Sadly, stigma plays a role. Patients who are overweight or anxious may not receive the same level of investigative care, and their symptoms might be prematurely written off. This can lead to missed or delayed diagnoses.

The Risks of Fad Diagnoses

Misdiagnosis and Delayed Treatment: Patients may suffer longer because the real issue isn’t being addressed.

Erosion of Trust: Patients who feel dismissed may lose faith in the healthcare system, becoming less likely to seek help.

Overmedication or Undertreatment: Treating the wrong cause, such as prescribing antidepressants for stress when the issue is hormonal, can do more harm than good.

A Better Way Forward

Healthcare professionals and patients alike must be aware of the tendency toward diagnostic shortcuts. Good medicine demands curiosity, listening, and a willingness to dig deeper: Even when the answer isn’t obvious. Diagnostic trends will always exist, but critical thinking and personalised care must remain the gold standard.

Last notes:-

Just as fashion changes with the seasons, so too does the lens through which we view health. But while trousers can be swapped out easily, medical diagnoses affect lives. We must resist the urge to settle for convenient answers, and instead strive for accurate, compassionate, evidence-based care—no matter how “in vogue” a diagnosis might be.