WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?

As diagnostic testing takes over the wellness industry, Taller visits an integrative wellness retreat that combines medical science with ancient healing methods to promote longevity

- Coco Marett

Growing up half Chinese, I’ve become fairly impervious to walking into a room and having people tell me all the things I’m doing wrong. Only this time, instead of a gaggle of relatives, it was the small army of doctors and wellness experts at Rakxa, a luxury wellness retreat on Bang Krachao, a lush island on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River.

A visit to Rakxa starts with consultations that include detailed questions about your lifestyle habits, and diagnostic testing that looks at everything from body composition to blood tests that check for inflammation, hormone imbalance, and toxic metal profiles.

Diagnostic testing is among the fastest-growing trends in the wellness space. A recent Global Health & Wellness Study of 17 markets carried out by data analytics company NielsenIQ reported that 48 per cent of global consumers regularly make proactive health and wellness choices, such as turning to diagnostic testing— previously reserved mostly for confirming or ruling out disease—in the name of preventive healthcare.

In 2022, during the filming of Limitless for National Geographic, a reality series that followed Chris Hemsworth as he explored how humans can be fitter, healthier, and happier for longer, a genetics test revealed that the actor was among just two to three per cent of the population who are up to ten times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The actor’s diagnosis made headlines, and served as a staunch reminder that none of us are invincible—not even the immortal god-king Thor. He immediately took a break from acting to make some dramatic lifestyle changes following this discovery.