Ready, set, test! A new wave of health assessments measures wellness in novel ways

You may have heard of assessments like DNA testing, longevity molecular profiling, body composition analysis and metabolic assessments – these are all examples of tests that can help inform how you can adjust your lifestyle to improve your health. 

Wellness enthusiasts in the know are becoming increasingly willing to travel to find these individualised health programmes and diagnostic tests, seeking out retreats beyond their home cities to better understand their bodies.

We spoke to Cavan Chan, a sleep and functional medicine health coach and founder of wellness brand GoalCraft , to demystify this new wellness trend. And if it piques your interest, we’ve also curated a list of places to try these health evaluations for yourself and are now offering an easy way to keep your health in check with the Cigna Cathay Premier Health Plan. Find out more below.

Understanding the science

To understand the benefits of these health assessments, Chan believes it’s important to point out the evolution of medicine. We’re moving away from an emphasis on medicine that, if you have a particular disease, “is good at extending your life but not necessarily at curing your disease”, he says. 

In place of that, we’re gravitating towards wellness approaches that focus on prevention and an individual’s physiological factors – as well as their lifestyle.

“That’s where functional medicine comes in. It’s about the individuality; we need to understand where your body’s weaknesses lie. If you’re more prone to certain things, we need to look into strengthening those weak points a little bit more,” says Chan.

Who can benefit from being tested?

“Realistically,” Chan says, “only people who are very obsessive about their health, the optimisers, [get tested] because we’re still early in the game. But more idealistically, anyone could be doing it – especially if your family has a history [of] chronic disease.” Meanwhile, athletes looking to optimise their lifestyle and those interested in improving their performance in general are also encouraged to test.

What are the tests worth knowing about?

While some assessments like DNA testing have become more popular in the past few years, higher-end variations have also popped up in the market. According to Chan, the genetic methylation test is one of them. It screens patients to identify if there could be potential issues with naturally occurring biochemical processes in the body that influence cardiovascular health, risk of disease and more. 

Another popular choice is liquid biopsy, a blood test that scans for cancer. 

“[You] draw multiple vials of blood and they’ll be able to do 50 different types of cancer screening – which is really good because with many different types of cancer, they’re not tested [for] well or you don’t even know you need to test [for] them,” Chan says. He gives pancreatic cancer as an example of a disease that isn’t tested for until symptoms show up, at which point it’s often too late to treat.

On metabolic testing, Chan highlights the DXA scan . “It literally measures the fat [and] muscle components in your body, which is a very good indication of how healthy you are.” 

Body composition may not be obvious on the surface, either, with “skinny fat” and “fatty liver” being two examples of not-always-visible health problems. A key takeaway, says Chan: “Don’t judge people by the cover. Test, don’t guess.”

He adds that having good muscle composition in your 40s and 50s will help maintain your condition “even if you have 1 per cent decay every year” – but the important thing is building up your muscle capacity before you get to that point.

“And of course you have your telomere length test,” Chan says, referring to a form of longevity-related testing. Used as an indicator of overall and cellular health, the test associates shorter telomeres (protective caps at the ends of chromosomes necessary for cell division) with an increased risk of developing diseases usually linked to ageing, as the shortening process is associated with growing older. 

Chan also mentions that gut microbiome tests have become more popular in Hong Kong lately. Revealing what type of bacteria and fungi are present in the gut, often with major differences between individuals, the assessment can be used to provide advice on digestive health.

The best wellness retreats around the world for health assessments and testing

1. Rakxa

Known for their holistic approach to wellness, the team at Rakxa  provides guests with the benefits of both traditional medicinal wisdom found across Asia alongside the newest in technology. The retreat, located in Bangkok, aims to identify the causes of your bodily imbalances with a combination of metabolic, hormonal, functional mobility and micronutrient testing and more, before addressing them based on four pillars of wellbeing: nutrition, lifestyle, rest and therapy. 

2. Villa Eden

Meanwhile, Villa Eden , a luxurious retreat in Merano, Italy offers several week-long health programmes that help with managing weight, stress, longevity and more. Guests will undergo medical testing which spans epigenetic tests and body composition analyses to examine your condition before heading into a series of targeted therapies including drainage massages, fitness training and thermal treatments which help with healing.  

3. Kamalaya Koh Samui

This Thai resort boasts a large selection of tests for the health-conscious, from at-home kits to complete before your arrival to on-site preventative screening for cancer. Resident experts will analyse your at-home results (which may include genetic, food intolerance and toxicity tests) to design a custom retreat addressing aspects of your lifestyle that can be improved – from how to exercise and relax to what to eat.

Assessments available in Hong Kong

Genetic methylation test 

HKG Epitherapeutics’ team of epigeneticists developed a saliva test for DNA methylation (a process that affects how different molecules in the body behave) earlier this year, providing a health report and personalised lifestyle recommendations for those looking to optimise their well-being.

Liquid biopsy

While it notes that liquid biopsy may not be suitable for everyone, in part due to its hefty price tag, Central Health began offering the blood test this year in the hope that the early detection it affords can help high-risk clients home in on potential issues.

Body composition analysis

The Active Health Clinic at The University of Hong Kong offers appointments for body composition analysis using DXA technology, citing its usefulness in monitoring fitness goals. 

As an alternative to DXA scans, InBody tests can also map out your body composition. Self-operated machines that perform the assessment can often be found at gyms, including several PURE locations .

Telomere test

Biotech company Govita has developed take-home telomere tests that come with simple instructions and provide a digital report on your cellular health within seven days.

Protect your health 

A healthy lifestyle has numerous components, from diet and sleep to exercise – and for many, that includes health protection. Cigna Cathay Premier Health Plan provides you with comprehensive health coverage and a free medical check-up per policy year to safeguard your health. Until 30 September 2024, successfully enrol in the plan to enjoy up to 30 per cent off your first-year premium, at most a 4-month PURE Fitness Pass that includes up to four personal training sessions at a single PURE Fitness club in Hong Kong, and the chance to earn up to 65,000. Terms and conditions apply.