CBS News Appoints Controversial Functional Medicine Advocate as Contributor
In a move that has sparked significant debate within medical and media circles, CBS News has announced the hiring of Dr Mark Hyman as a new contributor. The appointment comes as part of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss's ongoing restructuring of the network's news division, which has seen several controversial figures join the broadcaster's ranks.
Dr Hyman, who describes himself as a leading proponent of functional medicine, has made numerous claims that have drawn criticism from mainstream medical professionals. Among his most notable assertions is that he has reduced his biological age by two decades through therapies including cold plunges, and that conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia can be reversed using nutritional supplements available through his online store.
Scientific Community Raises Concerns
The medical establishment has responded with alarm to Hyman's appointment. Jonathan Jarry, a science communicator with McGill University's Office for Science and Society, warned that "by hiring Mark Hyman, CBS News will be misinforming its large audience on the subject of health." Jarry described functional medicine as "a pipeline that moves disenchanted healthcare providers away from evidence-based care and into the arms of a very lucrative wellness industry."
Medical author Harriet Hall has previously labelled Hyman a "germ theory denialist," while oncological surgeon David Gorski has characterised functional medicine as "pure quackery." The American Council of Science and Health has accused Hyman specifically of promoting "junk science and magical thinking."
Political and Financial Connections
The appointment appears to align with broader political shifts within American media and healthcare. Hyman maintains a longstanding collaboration with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, having written the preface for Kennedy's 2014 book arguing for the removal of the preservative Thimerosal from vaccines. Both men have positioned themselves against the scientific consensus on vaccination safety.
Financial connections further intertwine Hyman's appointment with Weiss's media ventures. Hyman serves as chief medical officer of Function Health, which completed a $298 million Series B funding round last November led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. The same firm's co-founders, Marc Andreessen and David Horowitz, have been vocal supporters and donors to Donald Trump's political campaigns.
Andreessen Horowitz previously invested in Weiss's media outlet The Free Press, which was acquired by CBS's parent company Paramount Skydance in the deal that brought Weiss to the network. This financial overlap has raised questions about the independence of editorial decisions within the revamped CBS News division.
Functional Medicine Under Scrutiny
Functional medicine, which Hyman promotes through his podcast and media appearances, claims to "restore healthy function by treating the root causes of disease" through methods including stool testing, hormone analysis, and food sensitivity assessments. Treatment typically involves supplements, nutritional plans, and therapies such as yoga and acupuncture.
However, scientific critics argue that many of functional medicine's core concepts lack rigorous evidence. The late oncologist Wallace Sampson described it as a collection of "abandoned concepts" resurrected under a modern slogan. Mainstream scientists have particularly criticised Hyman's promotion of concepts like "leaky gut syndrome," which they argue "cannot be accurately diagnosed" and represents "not a real diagnosis."
Controversial Publications and Alliances
Beyond his medical claims, Hyman has co-authored publications that blend health advice with religious messaging. His book The Daniel Plan, written with evangelical pastor Rick Warren, makes numerous claims that contradict established scientific research, including assertions that MSG consumption "triples your insulin production" and that "sugar is the main cause of disease."
The book incorporates biblical passages to support health recommendations, interpreting Corinthians 6:12-20 as demonstrating that "my body belongs to God" and Hebrews 11:35 as warning against "the addicting taste of junk food." This fusion of religious teaching with health advice has drawn criticism from those advocating for evidence-based medical communication.
Regulatory Implications
Hyman's alliance with Kennedy has already influenced healthcare policy. Despite overwhelming scientific consensus finding no link between Thimerosal and autism, Kennedy ordered the preservative's removal from vaccines last July. Both men have also promoted the use of unapproved peptides for various conditions, with Hyman's website advocating substances like BPC 157 for tendon healing and LL 37 for long Covid symptoms without FDA approval for these purposes.
Kennedy has promised to relax FDA scrutiny on experimental substances including peptides, though he recently acknowledged to USA Today that "some of them have good documentation. Many of them do not. And I don't know what the health, the adverse effects are or the beneficial effects."
Media Landscape Transformation
CBS's announcement described Hyman as one of "19 new contributors" joining the network, though specific details about his role remain unclear. During a staff meeting, Weiss reportedly told employees: "These individuals are just the start... I urge you to use them more."
The appointment reflects broader changes in American media under the Trump administration, with Jarry predicting that CBS viewers "will be told that true health is about testing for everything – at a cost – and gorging yourself on an array of unproven and unnecessary dietary supplements." He added that this development represents "the institutionalization of pseudoscience" within mainstream media.
As CBS News undergoes this significant transformation, the medical community watches with concern, questioning how evidence-based health reporting will fare alongside alternative medical perspectives gaining unprecedented platform access through major broadcast networks.
