With attentive, compassionate eyes focused on the camera, Jay Shetty poses the question: “Do you ever find yourself eating healthy but still feeling exhausted by mid-afternoon? Or are you attempting to eliminate junk food yet struggling every step of the way? Perhaps you regularly experience bloating.”
“Or,” he continues, “maybe you’re contemplating, ‘Jay, it’s time for a gut test. I need answers because I don’t feel well,’” emphasizing the phrase “don’t feel well” with expressive hand gestures.
He pauses for a moment. “If any of this resonates with you,” he states, “then this episode is meant for you.”
The video, titled “5 Nutrition EXPERTS: The SHOCKING Healthy Foods That are Making You Fat (Food Lies HIDDEN From Us!)” demonstrates Shetty’s signature authenticity, bundled with the promise of transformation and crafted for social media appeal.
In recent years, Shetty, now 38, has amassed a significant following as a prominent figure in the health and wellness space. He’s particularly recognized for his podcast, “On Purpose,” where he engages with diverse guests including physicians, psychologists, entrepreneurs, motivational speakers, and celebrities, discussing their insights on healthy living. With notable guests like Bill Gates, Khloe Kardashian, Casey Means, and venture capitalist Bryan Johnson, “On Purpose” boasts nearly 4.5 million YouTube subscribers. Its audio format consistently ranks among the top five health and fitness podcasts on Apple, reportedly accumulating 35 million downloads each month.
Shetty’s reach transcends podcasting; he’s well-connected in Hollywood and has offered spiritual coaching to stars like Will Smith (whom he refers to as a “dear, dear spiritual brother”) and Jennifer Lopez, who chose Shetty to officiate her wedding to Ben Affleck in 2023. That same year, he was invited to conduct an interview with President Joe Biden about mental health initiatives.
Additionally, Shetty serves as the Chief Purpose Officer at Calm, the meditation app, a role that includes daily in-app meditations and HR webinars focused on self-care. He has authored two books and established the Jay Shetty Certification School for life coaching, launched the brand agency House of 1212, and introduced the tea brand Juni. His engagements extend to corporations such as Deloitte, Google, and Novo Nordisk, where he speaks on mindfulness.
Collectively, Shetty’s array of ventures presents him as a beacon of health and spirituality for a fast-paced modern life. However, he often intertwines his messages of mindfulness and healing with health advice that is either lacking in context, serves his interests, or is simply unsupported by scientific evidence.
On his show, Shetty has shared broad recommendations on how to “cancer-proof” oneself and made misleading assertions about inflammation, which one guest attributed to the elevated Covid-19 death toll in the U.S., ignoring other critical factors. Many of Shetty’s guests lack formal health qualifications, and even those with medical expertise often promote their own products, which include three-day cleanse kits, anti-glucose spike supplements, or access to exclusive medical spas. Shetty did not respond to multiple interview requests for this article.
Experts have informed STAT that Shetty is more an emblem of the flourishing, loosely regulated wellness sector than a reliable source of health information. Nevertheless, millions are tuning in to his perspective—a reflection not only of his branding prowess but also of the public’s desire for remedies outside conventional healthcare.
Who is Jay Shetty? From monk to mogul
Shetty’s personal narrative presents two intersecting versions—one he recounts and another compiled by investigative reporters, former associates, and his digital history.
According to Shetty, which he regularly shares in public, he grew up in North London and was attending Bayes Business School when he encountered Gauranga Das, a Hindu monk. He felt an immediate connection to Das’ serene message and confident presence.
Following graduation, Shetty opted to reside in a Mumbai ashram for three years, where he focused on meditation, studying ancient texts, and serving alongside other monks. Shetty indicates in his 2020 book “Think Like a Monk” that he returned to London after Das advised him that he would be more beneficial to the world outside the ashram.
However, before achieving this envisioned contribution, Shetty took a position in digital marketing strategy with Accenture, which sparked his fascination with social media.
By 2016, he had departed from the company to pursue a path as a content creator, initially serving as a video producer and host at HuffPost before establishing himself as an independent figure online. He launched “On Purpose” in 2019 with the motto “The place you come to become happier, healthier, and more healed.”
This podcast propelled Shetty from a social media influencer to a recognized mental health advocate, steering campaigns with Kenneth Cole and playing roles in several celebrity marriages. He has garnered attention from prominent figures, including Michelle Obama and Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Earlier this year, “On Purpose” collaborated with Chase Sapphire for a North America live podcast tour, featuring VIP packages that included exclusive meditation sessions and meet-and-greets.
However, Shetty’s monk narrative and business practices have sparked significant debate.
In 2019, comedian Nicole Arbour shared a video highlighting instances where Shetty presented inspirational quotes and anecdotes without appropriate acknowledgments. In response, Shetty retroactively added sources to his past social media posts.
The following year, journalist John McDermott released an intense investigation in the Guardian, detailing problems regarding online plagiarism and inconsistencies in Shetty’s monk story.
The investigation indicated that Shetty had affiliations with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), well before he claimed to have met a monk, and appeared to have overstated his duration in the Indian ashram.
While Shetty does not overtly repudiate his associations with Iskcon now, he deliberately avoids mentioning the organization, a conspicuous omission given his frequent references to his monk past.
Shetty’s brand merges health and spirituality
Lacking formal medical credentials or mental health experience, Shetty derives much of his clout from his years as a monk. He asserts this in “Think Like a Monk,” stating, “If you wanted to innovate, you might study Elon Musk; you might look into Beyoncé for performance. But if you’re aiming to train your mind for peace, calm, and purpose? Monks are the real experts.”
Despite contradictions in his biography, Shetty has crafted a highly successful brand leveraging his monk reputation. On “On Purpose,” Shetty delves into a vast array of health topics, encompassing depression, anxiety, motivation, relationship dynamics, sleep hygiene, weight management, gut health, cancer prevention, and more.
Guests on his podcast, holding varying levels of expertise, often lack disclaimers or fact-checking. In one episode, Shetty speaks with nutritionist and podcaster Shawn Stevenson, who asserts that a healthy diet and exercise enabled him to overcome degenerative bone disease—a statement lacking nuance. While healthy eating can somewhat benefit spinal and bone health, full recovery remains unlikely and relies on other crucial factors.
In another discussion, nutritionist and “cleanse expert” Elissa Goodman claims that stage 4 cancer can be treated outside of “Western modalities” through mindset shifts and dietary changes. “I believe you can heal from almost anything,” she asserts, while praising detox cleanses and psilocybin therapies.
Not all content featured on his show lacks scientific support. Numerous episodes highlight medical professionals encouraging reductions in ultra-processed foods and advising adequate sleep for memory retention, with solid scientific backing. However, experts caution that this scientifically sound advice is often mixed with unverified claims and oversimplified soundbites.
“Celebrities can deeply influence online without the critical knowledge to provide health and medical guidance,” stated Stephanie Alice Baker, an associate professor at City St. George’s, University of London. “Their lived experience often substitutes for professional expertise, yet they frequently face no repercussions for disseminating inaccurate or potentially harmful advice.”
Shetty occasionally presents a skewed portrayal of health, recognized by Mariah Wellman, assistant professor at the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University, who studies the wellness sector. She indicated, for instance, that while discussing sleep’s importance in weight management, the conversation soon transitioned into recommendations against consuming seed oils, a notion not thoroughly substantiated, lacking adequate context.
While Wellman perceives Shetty as generally well-intentioned, she expresses concern over how he entwines emotionally charged themes with expert opinions, positioning himself as an authority despite unresolved contradictions in his personal narrative.
Beyond “On Purpose,” Shetty’s entrepreneurial endeavors reflect messaging aimed at fostering healthier lifestyles. His tea brand Juni—that’s short for “Just You And I”—advertises itself as “the meeting point of happiness and function,” asserting that ingredients like ashwagandha and reishi mushroom can enhance brain health and alleviate fatigue. But can a 12-ounce can of carbonated yuzu pineapple tea genuinely deliver on those claims? Experts say no.
Adaptogens, a term for plant-based substances believed to help the body cope with stress, are often marketed with exaggerated health benefits. Rashmi Mullur, a clinical professor of medicine at UCLA, acknowledges that research exists on some adaptogens but cautions that products sold as supplements frequently make broad health claims without proper scientific backing.
“The only regulation in the U.S. is that these cannot be classified as pharmacological drugs or be considered medications,” Mullur elaborated. “When seeking evidence for the benefits of products with adaptogens sold on the market, you will find no reliable clinical trials—this is not an area addressed by the wellness sector.”
Shetty did not reply to interview requests from STAT, but he has previously addressed criticisms about reconciling his roles as a monk and a social media figure, stating, “Critics want me to stop being who I truly am. They constantly search for angles to diminish my work, refusing to accept that someone with good intentions can succeed.”
For $7,400, a Shetty credential
Shetty’s business ventures flourish due to people resonating with his calls for enhanced wellbeing. This dynamic is particularly apparent in his life coaching program, the Jay Shetty Certification School.
The program includes online group sessions, practice coaching, and self-study and costs as much as $7,400 to join, having accreditation from the Association for Coaching (although earlier false claims of other accreditations were removed following the Guardian investigation). Most of the program is led by life coaches rather than licensed therapists, with Shetty participating sporadically in group sessions or pre-recorded videos.
Andrea Borges discovered Shetty through “On Purpose” and quickly became a devotee. After feeling burnt out in her managerial career, she enrolled in the Jay Shetty Certification School, as she found a profound connection with its teachings. Two years post-graduation, now a mindset and healing coach, Borges expresses gratitude for the insights and relationships gained, regardless of Shetty’s controversies.
“It’s a vital lesson not to elevate any individual to an unrealistic stature,” she remarked. Borges learned of Shetty’s controversies after graduating from JSCS but had an “overall very positive” experience with the program.
Similarly, Veronica Caulfield completed the JSCS program last April and now operates her own life coaching business. “The past year has been transformative,” she said.
Caulfield credits JSCS for improving her relationships and fostering her self-discovery. She distinguishes her journey from Shetty’s controversies, emphasizing that the program empowered her to “explore my authentic self alongside others in coaching roles.”
What Shetty’s popularity says about health institutions
Borges’ and Caulfield’s experiences underscore a crucial facet of Shetty’s influence: his strong encouragement to prioritize mental and physical health resonates deeply with a vast audience, controversies aside.
“People aren’t misled by the wellness sector due to ignorance but out of sheer necessity,” remarked Mullur. “They are seeking help and reliable information.”
The ascent of wellness influencers like Shetty corresponds with challenging health times and heightened skepticism towards conventional medicine. Wellman noted, “Insurance costs are escalating, and trust in medical professionals is dwindling as reliance grows on technology like telehealth for connections.” Individuals are thus more inclined to explore alternative solutions for their health—including purchasing products and engaging with online trends.
Regardless of Shetty’s complicated health information delivery, his rising influence highlights a significant void in the medical establishment’s ability to communicate trustworthy health insights.
“None of my patients seem to be free from the burden of contemporary life,” Mullur stated. “Yet, it presents medicine with an opportunity to expand discussions on how psychological and emotional stressors impact our health beyond traditional medical frameworks.”
