The Health Optimisation Summit, an event focused on longevity and performance enhancement, offered attendees a glimpse into the world of biohacking, complete with costly supplements and unconventional wellness practices. The summit, held at the Business Design Centre in London, featured speakers like survival expert Bear Grylls and organizer Tim Gray, known online as Tim Biohacker.
Attendees explored various health products and therapies, ranging from red-light treatments to cardiovascular assessments. The global wellness economy is estimated to be worth £5.1 trillion, and despite an on-the-door ticket price of £399, the event, in its sixth year, was reportedly well-attended.
Bear Grylls promoted his new supplement, Modern Savage, priced at £65 for a month's supply and containing ground bison testicles. Grylls also spoke about using his faith to overcome personal fears. Other offerings included electrolyte powders, Finnish vibrating beds, and lion's mane mushroom supplements, with vendors often suggesting rapid and profound effects.
One speaker discussed the concept of an "ultra-processed" home and questioned the air quality within venues, prompting a sarcastic attendee to respond with "oxygen" and "dust." The event also touched upon mental well-being, with psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph discussing anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure. However, her recommendation for attendees to share details of her talk as a means of 'thrivelihood' was noted as part of a recurring theme of commercial promotion.
The experience for one journalist involved consuming electrolyte powders and trying a mushroom supplement, while also noting the high cost of food at the event, such as a £19 tuna niçoise salad. The journalist also observed a disconnect between the event's focus on health optimization and the more conventional social habits of some attendees, noting their own preference for snacks like Wotsits over the provided gluten- and seed-oil-free options.
By the end of the day, the journalist reported feeling hungry and dehydrated, failing to find a "cardiovascular twin" or experience enhanced well-being, concluding that the pursuit of optimization at the summit was not a personal success. The event's emphasis on various "hacks" for longevity, including vibrations, mushrooms, and supplements, highlighted a niche but fervent interest in extending human health and performance.