TikTok has always been a breeding ground for creativity, but in 2024, it’s taken health advice to a whole new (and often questionable) level.
The app is flooded with viral health hacks that claim to solve everything from weight loss to sleep issues. While some trends offer a kernel of truth, many are simply outrageous.
Honourable mentions go to the Sleepy Girl Mocktail, and the head-turning Clove-Infused Water for STDs and Vaginal Tightening. We explore these wild ideas in our article, Do These Viral TikTok Health Hacks Hold Up to Medical Scrutiny?
Today, we’re spotlighting four of the craziest TikTok health hacks taking over in 2024. Let’s break down the myths, explore the facts, and have a laugh – with a dose of medical reality.
1. Oatzempic: When Breakfast Gets a TikTok Makeover
TikTok’s “Oatzempic” trend has taken the humble bowl of oatmeal and turned it into a supposedly revolutionary weight-loss hack. By blending oats with water and lime juice, users claim the drink suppresses appetite and works like the diabetes medication Ozempic.
What’s really going on here? Oats are indeed a nutritional powerhouse.
They’re rich in soluble fibre, which slows digestion and helps you feel full longer, and they contain protein, which contributes to satiety.
@terrylinfit Fiber and protein is the hack not oatzempic.
Fitness expert Terry Lin explains in a video that these natural properties are the only reason Oatzempic “works.” It’s not magic – it’s biology.
The problem is that the trend isn’t celebrating oats for their health benefits. Instead, it reduces them to a tool for extreme calorie restriction. The underlying message? Hunger is bad, and suppressing it is the goal. This mindset is dangerous, especially for young audiences, as it fosters unhealthy relationships with food.
Fibre and protein are essential, but they’re only part of the equation. Relying on a single food (or drink) as a weight-loss shortcut isn’t sustainable or balanced.
2. Tadpole Water: Gag-Worthy or Game-Changing?
Made by soaking chia seeds in warm water with a squeeze of lemon, this gel-like drink is hailed as a weight-loss hack that fills your stomach, suppresses appetite, and even “detoxes” your body.
One viral video features a user reluctantly gulping down her chia mixture. She admits it makes her gag and that the taste is far from pleasant, but insists it is “worth it.”
If a drink needs this much convincing, maybe it is not the miracle solution it is made out to be.
@this.is.not_mariah tadpole water😋 #chiaseeds #chiawater #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – mariah
To be fair, there are health benefits to chia seeds. They are packed with soluble fibre, which absorbs water and expands in your stomach, helping you feel fuller for longer.
They also provide a dose of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and essential minerals.
But no matter how healthy chia seeds are, forcing down a slimy drink you cannot stand is unlikely to make you healthier or happier.
Then there is the matter of trust. Creators promoting the drink conveniently link to chia seeds in their TikTok shops, making it hard to ignore the profit motive behind this trend. If someone has to sell you on their hack, it is worth asking who benefits most: you or their bank account?
3. Is the Castor Oil Belly Button Hack a Slippery Slope?
The premise of this hack sounds simple: apply castor oil to your belly button and watch the belly fat “melt away.”
Some TikTok creators take it a step further, recommending you wrap your midsection or faster results. It’s a strange mix of old wives’ tales and modern internet ingenuity, and the results?
Let’s just say they’re up for debate.
@lkbphotography_ Add Magnesium spray and you’ll sleep like a baby 💤 #castoroil #castoroilonstomach #castoroilbeforeandafter ♬ original sound – LISA B
In the video we’re highlighting, the creator undeniably looks toned. It’s easy to see why viewers might want to try her method.
Here’s the catch: castor oil cannot dissolve fat. While it may moisturise skin or ease mild inflammation, it cannot penetrate deep enough to burn fat or detoxify the body. These claims have no basis in science.
Other TikTokers push the idea further, saying this hack prevents bloating after a meal. But bloating is a normal part of digestion, especially for women.
Hormones fluctuate throughout the month due to the menstrual cycle, which can naturally cause changes in water retention and bloating. There is no hack to prevent these processes, nor should there be.
The message this trend sends is concerning. It suggests that normal body functions like bloating need fixing, fostering unnecessary insecurities.
Instead of chasing quick fixes, focus on healthy, sustainable habits – and give yourself grace when your body responds to everyday changes.
4. The morning shed is TikTok’s latest bedtime ritual
The “morning shed” has taken over bedtime routines, combining beauty and sleep hacks into an elaborate ritual. The process involves putting your hair in curlers or wrapping it in a silk bonnet, taping your lips shut to promote nasal breathing, covering your forehead with silicone strips to reduce wrinkles, taping under the eyes to prevent puffiness, and wearing an eye mask.
Proponents of this trend claim it maximises sleep quality while addressing beauty concerns overnight. In the morning, participants “shed” the various coverings, revealing smoother skin, better hair, and a restful glow.
Some elements of the morning shed, like wearing a silk bonnet or an eye mask, have valid benefits. Silk can reduce hair friction and prevent breakage, while eye masks block out light for better sleep. However, taping the lips and under-eyes raises concerns.
@np.miranda Tell me you dont have kids wothout telling me you dont have kids 🤣🤣 linked products in my storefornt #morningroutine #skincare #fyp ♬ original sound – Np.Miranda
Taping the lips shut may encourage nasal breathing, which has benefits, but it is not safe for everyone. For those with sinus issues or undiagnosed sleep apnoea, it could restrict airflow and lead to poor-quality sleep or health risks. Similarly, taping delicate under-eye skin could cause irritation or even stretch the skin over time, which defeats the purpose of the hack.
While some parts of the routine may help, over-complicating bedtime with unnecessary steps can add stress rather than reduce it. Sleep should be about rest and recovery, not a nightly performance.
Taking Care of Yourself Beyond TikTok Trends
TikTok health hacks can be entertaining, but it is important to approach them with a critical eye. While some trends may offer small benefits, many promote harmful practices, unrealistic beauty standards, or quick fixes that are neither healthy nor sustainable.
True self-care is about finding what works for your unique body and mind, not following every viral hack. Bloating, wrinkles, and fluctuations in weight are normal parts of life – they do not need “fixing.”
Prioritising balanced nutrition, regular movement, quality sleep, and mental well-being will always beat shortcuts wrapped in plastic or slathered in castor oil.
Taking care of yourself is a long-term journey, not a viral challenge. Choose methods that make you feel secure, supported, and healthy, not pressured to conform to fleeting trends.
Disclaimer: We do not recommend or condone any of the trends mentioned here. The videos included are for educational purposes only, so you can learn to separate fact from fiction. Before trying any new health practice, especially those involving restriction or physical discomfort, consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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