How challenging the rules of "perfect" health could lead to a more empowered, ethical, and inclusive society.
Imagine being told you're a "bad citizen"—not for breaking a law, but for the way you eat, exercise, or even think about your own body. In an era saturated with wellness influencers and health-tracking apps, a new concept is emerging: "biocitizenship," where our value as citizens is increasingly tied to how well we manage our biological selves.
The pressure to be a "good" biocitizen—to optimize every aspect of our health—is immense. But what if the most responsible act is to consciously, and sometimes rebelliously, be a "bad" biocitizen?
This provocative idea, explored through a critical Indigenous standpoint, challenges the very foundations of genomic science, biomedical research, and the moral codes of health. It invites us to question who sets these rules and who is left out of the conversation 2 . This article delves into the revolutionary idea that breaking the "rules" of modern health science can be a powerful act of empowerment and a necessary step toward a more equitable and self-determined relationship with our bodies and our science.
73% of adults track health indicators
Over 30 million people have taken DNA tests
$71 billion diet industry worldwide
To understand the provocation of "bad biocitizenship," we must first grasp what biocitizenship entails.
Broadly, biocitizenship describes how individuals and groups engage with bioscience and biotechnology. It encompasses the rights, responsibilities, and identities we form in relation to our biological selves.
The "good" biocitizen is often portrayed as an empowered, informed individual who takes proactive steps—like genetic testing, strict dieting, and rigorous exercise—to manage their health as a form of civic duty 9 .
However, this concept doesn't exist in a vacuum. The fields of genomic science, biomedical research, and even the principles of bioethics have been made possible, in part, under colonial conditions 2 .
This history involves the possession of Indigenous territories and the study of Indigenous bodies, often while controlling the ethical principles for doing so. The "good" biocitizen, in this context, can be a figure that perpetuates a specific, Western-centric view of health and science.
The push to be perfectly healthy can lead to its own set of problems. Recent research highlights conditions like orthorexia nervosa—an obsession with healthy eating that becomes pathological.
This creates a paradox: socially approved pro-health behaviors can themselves be medically pathologized. Are you a "good" biocitizen for your disciplined eating, or a "bad" one for taking it to an extreme? This "paradoxical biocitizenship" shows how the boundaries of "healthy" citizenship are often blurred and contested 6 .
A 2025 study published in Social Science & Medicine provides a perfect lens through which to examine the paradoxes of modern biocitizenship. The study, titled "Paradoxical bio-citizenship: Examining healthy eating from lay and professional perspectives," investigated the fine line between virtuous health behavior and a potential eating disorder 6 .
The research explored how different groups perceive and practice "healthy eating," revealing how socially approved behaviors can become medically problematic.
An unhealthy obsession with eating "healthy" or "pure" foods that can lead to malnutrition and social isolation.
Researchers conducted a qualitative re-analysis of data from six existing studies. They synthesized insights from a diverse group of 56 participants, including 6 :
The team also analyzed anonymous discussions from eating disorder support forums. By examining these perspectives through a bio-citizenship lens—focusing on biological rights, civic responsibility, and self-care—the researchers aimed to understand the social and moral dimensions of extreme healthism 6 .
The findings revealed a stark contrast in how different groups view healthy eating, as summarized in the table below.
| Participant Group | Primary Motivation for Healthy Eating | View of Extremes |
|---|---|---|
| Younger Laypeople | Enhancing physical appearance and professionalism. | A tool for self-improvement and social success. |
| Older Laypeople | Prevention of illness and long-term wellness. | A practical strategy for maintaining health. |
| Bodybuilders | Achieving a specific physique; part of a subculture. | A necessary, disciplined practice. |
| Health/Fitness Pros | Client well-being and safety. | A risky behavior, often fueled by marketing and social media. |
| Support Forum Users | Managing a pathological condition. | Orthorexia was sometimes portrayed as "superior" to other eating disorders. |
A key finding was that for many lay participants, healthy eating was tied to moral and practical considerations, affirming their identity as responsible citizens. Meanwhile, professionals highlighted the role of pervasive food marketing and social media in promoting these often-risky behaviors, which their clients fiercely defended. On support forums, the condition was sometimes framed in a hierarchical way, with orthorexia seen as a "better" or more virtuous disorder to have, further complicating the path to diagnosis and recovery 6 .
While "reagents" in this field are not chemicals but conceptual tools, they are equally vital for conducting research. The following table details the key methodological tools used in studies like the one on orthorexia.
| Research Tool | Function | Example from the Study |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-Structured Interviews | To collect rich, qualitative data on personal experiences and beliefs. | Conducting 56 individual interviews with laypeople and professionals to understand their motivations 6 . |
| Digital Ethnography | To observe naturalistic interactions and discussions in online spaces. | Analyzing anonymous posts and conversations on eating disorder support forums 6 . |
| Thematic Analysis | To identify, analyze, and report patterns (themes) within qualitative data. | Re-analyzing data from six studies to find themes like "food marketing" and "healthy eating as pathological" 6 . |
| Bio-citizenship Lens | An analytical framework for interpreting data through rights, responsibilities, and identity. | Using this lens to explore how health behaviors are framed as a form of civic duty 6 . |
Focuses on understanding human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior through in-depth interviews and observations.
Uses online platforms and digital traces to understand contemporary social phenomena in naturalistic settings.
So, what does it mean to be a "bad" biocitizen? From a critical, Indigenous standpoint, it is an act of provocation aimed at upending habits of thought 2 .
It questions the dominant, often reductive, narrative of what constitutes "good" health and the "good" citizen, which can perpetuate existing inequalities and power structures 9 .
It involves warming up to the possibility of rejecting the territorial, political, and morally inflected claims of nation-states and their research institutions to study Indigenous bodies and control the bioethical principles for doing so 2 .
It recognizes that identity is complex, and many groups explicitly reject the 'biological' label imposed upon them. It seeks to break down the bounded knowledges of disciplinary reason 2 9 .
This is not an argument for neglecting one's health. Instead, it is a call for a more empowered and critical engagement with the science and industries that seek to define it. It's about asking who benefits from the current system and exploring alternatives like Indigenous Science, Technology, and Society (Indigenous STS), which aims to empower Indigenous peoplehoods and their ways of knowing 2 .
Challenge assumptions about what constitutes "healthy" behavior
Recognize how historical and social factors shape health standards
Support diverse approaches to health and wellbeing
The journey to becoming a "bad" biocitizen is, paradoxically, about taking back control. It is an invitation to critically examine the health messages that saturate our lives, to question the moral weight assigned to our lifestyle choices, and to understand the historical power dynamics embedded in our scientific systems.
By provoking the concept of "bad biocitizenship," we open the door to a more inclusive, ethical, and self-determined future, where our relationship with our health is not just about following rules, but about understanding and challenging them. In the end, the most profound act of biocitizenship may be the courage to define what "good" means for yourself.
This article is a popular science adaptation based on academic concepts and a specific 2025 study. For the original research, please refer to the source: "Paradoxical bio-citizenship: Examining healthy eating from lay and professional perspectives" in Social Science & Medicine (2025) 6 .