Bad Influence - How the Internet Hijacked Our Health

You used to see a doctor. Now you go online.

'This superb book is an essential guide to the wild world of internet health.' Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People

Want to track your blood sugar? Your heart rate? Your sleep? You can. Need to focus? Want to lose weight fast? Everything is a click away.

But who is regulating this?

As NHS waiting times grow ever longer and patients in the US are priced out of medical care altogether, influencers have filled the gap. From doctors promoting new therapies, to entrepreneurs selling solutions, these self-styled experts glow with good health and guarantee results.

But they are not familiar with our medical history. They don't owe us a duty of care. And they're rarely either qualified or impartial. So why do we trust them?

About the author

Dr Deborah Cohen is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and editor, who has worked across mainstream and academic print, digital, TV and radio. Previously Science Editor for ITV News and Health Correspondent for BBC Newsnight, leading their COVID-19 coverage, she established the investigations unit at the BMJ, one of the world-leading medical and health policy journals.

Product details

• Authors: Cohen Deborah
• Publisher: Oneworld Publications
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 28.04.2026
• EAN: 9780861549887
• ISBN: 978-0-86154-988-7
• No. of pages: 384
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Politics, society, business > Society; Social sciences, law, business > Media, communication > Media science; SELF-HELP / General, HEALTH & FITNESS / General, MEDICAL / General, HEALTH & FITNESS / Health Care Issues, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Economics / General, HEALTH & FITNESS / Women's Health, Health economics, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Disease & Health Issues, MEDICAL / Health Care Delivery, Popular medicine & health, Illness & addiction: social aspects, Women's health, Coping with personal problems, Women’s health, Health psychology, Social networking, Social media / social networking, Coping with illness & specific conditions, Popular medicine and health, Health, illness and addiction: social aspects, Health systems & services, COMPUTERS / Internet / Social Media, Health systems and services, HEALTH & FITNESS / Diseases & Conditions / General