Data Alone Isn't the Answer

Dear Friend,

There’s a growing trend in health right now: companies selling your data back to you.

Don’t get me wrong—data can be incredibly valuable. But a single snapshot rarely tells the whole story. Health isn’t black and white. It’s not “good” or “bad” based on a number from one blood draw. Context matters. Trends matter. You matter.

Take cholesterol, for example.

Lp(a): This is one of the few biomarkers where a one-time measurement can be truly useful. It’s genetic, and if you carry the gene, you produce a particularly sticky type of cholesterol that increases your long-term risk for heart disease. Knowing your Lp(a) status helps inform future cardiac risk.

HDL & LDL: These have long been labeled “good” and “bad” cholesterol, but those terms oversimplify a much more complex picture. In our practice, we focus on ApoB, which is a more accurate marker of cardiovascular risk than LDL alone.

And to make things even more nuanced: If you’re metabolically healthy, cholesterol isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It plays critical roles in hormone production, brain health, and cellular repair.

So why does this matter?

Because there’s a pattern I keep seeing in the health space:

• Selling data

• Selling interventions

• Selling technology

Let’s break it down.

Selling Data:

Many companies now offer continuous data streams—glucose, HRV, sleep, you name it. But they often stop there. The challenge? Very few help you make sense of that data or connect it to meaningful, long-term change.

Selling Interventions:

Once the data is in, some companies push quick fixes—supplements to tweak your numbers just enough to “optimize” you. It’s easy to fall into a loop: data, supplement, subscription. But do these changes actually improve your healthspan?

Selling Technology:

Wearables, cold plunges, VO2 masks—its all cool and I love a good gadget. But tools are only useful if they drive or sustain behavior change. Without that, it’s just data for data’s sake.

So what makes BodyTime different?

You might be thinking, “Wait…doesn’t BodyTime use data, interventions, and tech too?”

Absolutely. But we use them with purpose, in the context of a system built around you. With interpretation, guidance, and a method designed to improve your life—not just your numbers.

Next time, I’ll share how we pull all of this together—and what it looks like when it’s done right.

This newsletter is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute giving medical advice or endorsing any treatment. The use or application of the content herein forms no doctor-patient relationship. The information in this newsletter should not substitute for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Thanks,

Mike