Documentary Review: What the Health (2017)

 What the Health: Seven Years Later, What Still Holds Up?

When "What the Health" dropped in 2017, it sent shockwaves through Netflix queues and dinner table conversations alike. The documentary, produced by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn (the team behind "Cowspiracy"), made bold claims about the links between animal products and chronic disease while questioning why major health organisations weren't sounding louder alarms.

Seven years later, as we navigate an era of increased health consciousness and climate awareness, it's worth revisiting what the film got right—and where it might have overstated its case.

The documentary's central argument—that plant-based diets can significantly improve health outcomes—has only grown stronger with time. The film highlighted research showing lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers among populations eating more plant-forward diets. This wasn't revolutionary science, but the documentary deserves credit for bringing these findings to mainstream audiences in an accessible way.

The film's critique of industry influence on dietary guidelines also feels increasingly relevant. From sugar industry lobbying to conflicts of interest in nutrition research, we've seen mounting evidence that corporate interests have indeed shaped public health messaging in ways that don't always serve the public interest.

However, some of the documentary's more dramatic claims haven't aged as well under scientific scrutiny. The film suggested that eating any amount of processed meat was equivalent to smoking cigarettes in terms of cancer risk—a comparison that oversimplified how epidemiological research actually works. While processed meat is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organisation, the actual risk increase is much smaller than the film implied.

The documentary also painted all animal products with the same brush, suggesting that any consumption leads to disease. Current research presents a more nuanced picture: while excessive consumption of certain animal products (particularly processed meats) is associated with health risks, moderate consumption of fish, poultry, and dairy doesn't show the same stark correlations the film suggested.

Despite these scientific quibbles, "What the Health" succeeded in something arguably more important: it got people thinking critically about their food choices and the systems that influence them. The film sparked countless conversations about nutrition, prompted viewers to examine their own diets, and introduced many to the concept that food could be medicine.

The documentary also highlighted genuine problems in our food system and healthcare approach. Its criticism of the revolving door between industry and regulatory agencies wasn't wrong, even if some specific examples were oversimplified. The film's call for more emphasis on preventive nutrition rather than just treating symptoms with medication has become increasingly mainstream in medical thinking.

In 2025, we're living through what some call a "longevity revolution"—increased focus on health-span, not just lifespan. Plant-based eating has moved from fringe to mainstream, with major food companies investing billions in alternative proteins. Climate concerns have added another dimension to dietary choices that the film touched on but didn't fully explore.

The rise of personalised nutrition and nutrigenomics has also complicated the documentary's one-size-fits-all approach. We now better understand that optimal diets can vary significantly based on individual genetics, microbiomes, and metabolic profiles.

The documentary's greatest achievement wasn't necessarily in getting every scientific detail right—it was in inspiring people to take agency over their health and question systems that might not have their best interests at heart. In that sense, "What the Health" succeeded exactly where it needed to: not in the laboratory, but in the kitchen, where real change happens one meal at a time.

Whether you embrace everything the film argued or approach it with healthy skepticism, its central invitation remains compelling: pay attention to what you eat, question who benefits from your food choices, and remember that every bite is a vote for the kind of world—and body—you want to create.