Is Lactose Intolerance Just a Fad?
Spoiler: No. Your enzymes don't care about trends.
The Reality / Science
Lactose intolerance is genetic and evolutionary, not trendy. About 65% of humans lose the ability to digest lactose after childhood — it's the biological norm, not the exception. Fifty years ago, people had lactose intolerance; they just didn't have a name for it or the luxury of avoiding it.
What's changed: awareness, diagnosis, and food labeling. We now recognize lactose intolerance as a real condition. We have lactose-free products. We talk about it openly. That's not a fad — that's progress.
"Lactose intolerance is the normal state for the majority of the world's population after weaning." — NIH National Center for Biotechnology Information (PubMed)
Why the Myth Persists
Confirmation bias. If you grew up without hearing about lactose intolerance, it feels new. But it was always there — people just suffered in silence or attributed symptoms to something else. Rising diagnosis rates don't mean more people have it; they mean more people recognize it. That's not a fad; that's literacy.
Parental Perspective
You might feel defensive when someone says your kid's lactose intolerance is "made up" or "trendy." It's not. Your child's digestive system is real. Their discomfort is real. And you're not being overprotective by managing it — you're being attentive. That's good parenting, not fad-following.
Takeaway / Action Tip
- "Lactose intolerance is genetic and affects 65% of adults worldwide. It's not new; awareness is."
- "My child's symptoms are real, whether or not you experienced them growing up."
- "Managing it isn't a fad — it's practical parenting."
Remember: You don't need to convince anyone. Your child's comfort is enough.