Latest news with #proactivehealth
Gulf Business
09-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Business
Wellness isn't what it used to be – and that's a good thing. Here's why
Image: Supplied Not too long ago, health was something you checked in on only when something went wrong. You went to the doctor, visited the pharmacy, and picked up the prescription. Job done. Today, that definition feels outdated. What we're seeing, across the Middle East and globally, is a shift from reactive health to proactive wellbeing. The modern consumer is no longer waiting to fall ill to start paying attention to their body or lifestyle. Health is being redefined through a more holistic lens – one that includes mental clarity, emotional resilience, better sleep, digestive health, nutrition, movement, and yes, skincare routines built around ingredients most people hadn't heard of five years ago. This isn't just a change in consumer behaviour. It's a full-scale cultural evolution. And one that's shifting how we think about the role of health and beauty in everyday life. A generation that knows more – and expects more Much of this change has been driven by younger generations, according to a recent McKinsey report, primarily millennials who are leading the way in wellness-focused spending. Gen Z, meanwhile, has shown a noticeable shift over the past five years — especially in the MENA region—toward beauty and skincare. In the past, skincare marketing focused heavily on anti-ageing, mostly targeting older demographics. Now, we're seeing Gen Z and millennial audiences stepping into wellness stores, scanning ingredient labels, and asking about retinol, niacinamide or probiotics. Not because of hype, but because they've done their research. The difference today is access to information. Health-related content, from expert videos, AI tools, to Reddit threads, is everywhere. People are becoming more aware, more curious, and more intentional. This means retailers and brands alike can no longer lead with vague promises. They need to lead with facts. Beyond the buzzwords This shift in awareness also calls for greater responsibility. We've seen a rise in the use of labels like 'natural', 'clean', or 'organic' across products. But what do these really mean? In many cases, there's still no global standard or universal regulation that holds those words accountable. As an industry, we have a duty to help consumers cut through the noise. Education, whether through trained staff, verified certifications, or clearer brand communication – should be at the core of any modern wellness strategy. The more people understand what they're buying, the more confident and empowered they feel in taking care of their wellbeing. Health is becoming more personal – and more digital Wellness has also gone digital. Consumers don't just expect products to be effective. They expect them to be accessible. Whether it's a pharmacy experience on WhatsApp, advice via telehealth, or same-day delivery of nutrition supplements, convenience now sits at the heart of health. In fact, the GCC's telehealth market is forecasted to exceed $2.5bn by 2033, with growing emphasis on wellness and preventive healthcare and integration of telehealth platforms among the Technology will continue to play a huge role in the future of the industry. AI, in particular, will have wide-ranging applications. From helping brands predict wellness trends to enabling more personalised consumer journeys. Within the GCC, AI is expected to shape the healthcare landscape, transforming the future of patient care But for any of it to matter, it must make health more human – not less. What's next As the definition of wellness continues to expand, I believe the Middle East region is uniquely placed to lead. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) beauty and personal care market alone is projected to reach At GMG, our focus is on designing health and beauty experiences that meet people where they are – in their lifestyles, their cultural needs, and their values. We see wellness not as a trend, but as a long-term movement grounded in knowledge, trust, and progress. Because while trends may come and go, the desire to feel better, more energised, more balanced, more informed, is here to stay. The writer is the president of Health & Beauty,
National Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
As Life Expectancy Stalls, NiaHealth Adds $5.75M in Funding to Lead Canada's Proactive Health Movement
Article content Led by Golden Ventures, the funding accelerates the rollout of NiaHealth's Platform 2.0 and cements its role as the category-defining leader in Canada's proactive health revolution. Article content TORONTO — NiaHealth, the fast-growing health tech startup pioneering proactive care in Canada, today announced the close of its $5.75 million seed round, led by Golden Ventures, with participation from notable investors including Kyle Braatz (CEO, Fullscript), Satish Kanwar & Arati Sharma (Good Future / ex-Shopify), Jonathan Ehrlich (Roar Ventures), Zach Coelius (Coelius Capital), The51 women-focused venture fund, Jason Smith (CEO, Klue), Kathy Butler (CIBC), and returning investors Boris Wertz (Version One Ventures), ScaleGood Fund, Garage Capital and Ivan Yuen (Co-Founder, Wattpad). This builds on a $2.5M pre-seed raise in 2024, bringing total funding to over $8.25 million to date. Article content Since emerging from stealth earlier this year, NiaHealth has seen over 12,000 Canadians join its waitlist, is on track to cross 300K+ biomarker tests by end of year, and has quickly grown users 30% month-over-month, driven largely by referrals. Partnerships with the University of Alberta and high-growth companies like Ada are helping expand both its scientific research and corporate employer benefits program. Article content The raise comes at a critical inflection point: Canadian life expectancy has been stagnant for six years, chronic illness is on the rise, and nearly 6.5 million Canadians lack access to a nurse practitioner or family doctor. At the same time, fitness wearables and health trackers are generating more data than ever, yet health outcomes aren't improving. NiaHealth bridges that gap by giving Canadians access to the tools, technology, advanced clinical-grade healthspan testing, and one on one human clinician guidance to take action before symptoms strike. Article content From Tester to Investor Article content Matt Golden, Partner at Golden Ventures and lead investor in NiaHealth, began his relationship with the company not just as a financial backer but as a member. Article content 'I was always healthy, but NiaHealth helped me highlight unknown health risks—as a result, I worked with the NiaHealth clinician team to make lifestyle interventions that ended up reducing my risk of diabetes by more than half upon retesting. The data was powerful, but it was the human clinical guidance that made it sustainable. That's when I knew: this isn't just another health startup. It's a movement that should benefit all Canadians and Golden Ventures needs to be a part of it.' Article content 'We're building the most advanced, accessible, and evidence-based Longevity-as-a-Service platform in Canada,' said Sameer Dhar, Co-Founder & CEO of NiaHealth. 'We plan for everything else in life, mortgages, careers, retirement, yet most of us are flying blind when it comes to our long-term health. At NiaHealth, we believe Canadians should have the tools and clinical support to take control of their health. The earlier you know, the more you can do.' Article content From Proactive Annual Check-Ups to Continuous, Data-Driven Care Article content Over 90% of NiaHealth members discover an undiagnosed issue or risk, and more importantly, start doing something about it. With Platform 2.0 launching this summer, NiaHealth becomes the most powerful integrated proactive health platform in Canada by combining an expanding set of test data to unlock advanced personalized insights: Article content Integration with popular wearables like Oura Ring, Garmin, Apple Watch, and Fitbit for 365-days-a-year insights to understand the relationship between behaviours and a member's unique biomarkers; Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to track how food impacts your health real-time via bluetooth; Expansion from 50 to 100+ biomarkers offered in testing to get even more precision insights; And commitment to having the widest range of proactive tests in Canada, adding Toxic Heavy Metals, Omega's, Advanced Thyroid tests to roll out in coming weeks. Article content 'For too long, healthcare has been about reacting to illness. And far too many Canadians are living with preventable chronic conditions, impacting not just their health, but also placing strain on our public healthcare system,' said Sameer Dhar, CEO and Co-Founder of NiaHealth. 'But the good news is, with the help of modern longevity science and the latest technology, we can take real steps toward longer, healthier lives. Canadians deserve a roadmap, not just a diagnosis. We're here to help people not just add years to life, but energy to those years.' Article content What's Next: Scaling Reach, Sharpening Precision Article content Steered by co-founders Sameer Dhar (CEO), Tanya ter Keurs (Clinical Director), Mike Goss (COO), and Saif Uddin Mahmud (CTO), the funding will fuel the continued rollout of the NiaHealth Platform 2.0, continued product R&D into predictive features, and investment in developing human-first, AI-supported clinician support tools, and continued user expansion across Canada. Article content 'NiaHealth changed my life, plain and simple,' remarks Richard Balan, one of NiaHealth's first members. 'As a 6-foot-tall man in my 50s, I didn't realize that decades of small, unhealthy habits had left me at significant risk for heart attack, stroke, and chronic aches and pains. The wake-up call came when I saw my results in late 2023. With the support of a 1:1 clinician, I was inspired to make key lifestyle changes, and ended up losing 40 pounds in just 12 months. My retest in 2024, along with the full suite of tests NiaHealth offers, showed I had completely turned my health around. I feel energized and renewed.' Article content NiaHealth is Canada's first end-to-end proactive health platform, combining advanced biomarker testing, fitness wearables integration, and personalized clinical consultation to help Canadians optimize their health decades in advance. HSA-eligible and currently available in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. Learn more at Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media: Article content Kate Carnegie Article content Article content Article content
