Tell Us Your Health Questions: Reader Survey

The start of a new year is a classic time for a quiet reckoning with our health.

In fact, last January, I decided to finally look at my macros — how much protein, fiber, carbs, and other nutrients I was actually eating. I’ve always tried to eat “healthy,” but I was nervous about tracking anything too closely.

I came of age during the clean-eating era, of salads, raw vegetables, and the demonization of carbs. In college, that slid into disordered eating: severe under-eating as a way to avoid “danger” foods.

In my 20s, I thought I’d trained myself out of it, but in retrospect, I mostly swapped one rigid habit for another, following wellness trends of the 2010s. I ordered big salads with low-calorie counts, bulked up with quinoa and some chicken, but not much else. I drank “detox” green juices. I spent money on goji berries instead of loaves of bread.

The result? Serious stomach problems. It took real effort to unlearn that mindset and trust a more intuitive approach to food — ultimately resolving the bloating and discomfort.

Now, in my mid-30s, as I start a family, my question looks different. I’m not trying to shrink my body or follow strict rules. I want to be more deliberate about giving my body what it needs to function well — enough protein to stay strong, enough fiber to feel good, and enough fuel to get through long days — rather than assuming I’m “probably fine” and accidentally skimping on something essential.

Take our survey

This year, Business Insider’s health team wants to zoom in on that tension — between caring about your health and feeling overwhelmed by advice — that so often surfaces in January.

We want to hear the questions you’re carrying into the new year. Not vague resolutions, but real, specific questions about your health that you want clear, tailored answers to.

We’re collecting questions about the topics that feel most top-of-mind right now:

• weight and body composition
• sleep
• mental health and stress
• hormones and metabolism
• injury prevention
• chronic conditions
• longevity, and more.

Tell us what you’re curious about, confused by, or stuck on. We’ll take your questions directly to doctors, researchers, and trainers — and share their answers in a coming advice series on Business Insider.

We may reach out for follow-up, but we won’t publish any part of your response without your permission. And while this coverage isn’t a substitute for medical care, our goal is to help clarify the science.