New Data from Phoenix Reveals Canadians Turning to Dr. Google for Personal Care Goals in 2026, AI for Recommended Treatments

While online resources are easy to access, Phoenix’s Medical Director warns they should not replace the tailored advice of a medical professional.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Phoenix, a leading Canadian digital health clinic, released new poll data with insights from over 1,500 adult Canadians on their health and wellness goals for 2026. As Canadians kick off their New Year’s Resolutions tomorrow, Phoenix wanted to get a pulse on what Canadians are prioritizing when it comes to personal care, and how they plan to get information and recommendations to support their goals. The survey found that weight loss in particular is a priority for many Canadians, and while one in four will turn to Dr. Google as their first source of information to help achieve their goals, they also have moderate trust in AI to support them with weight loss strategies and tactics like meal planning and a fitness routine to lose weight.

When it comes to personal care goals for 2026, 68% of Canadians are prioritizing weight loss, 39% aim to reverse the signs of aging, and 26% hope to reduce or reverse hair thinning or balding. In fact, hair thinning/balding is more of a concern for women than for men, with nearly one in three women (32%) identifying addressing hair thinning/balding as a priority in the new year, compared to only one in five men (20%).

CANADIANS TURNING TO DR. GOOGLE, ONLINE SOURCES FOR INFO

To help achieve these personal care goals for the new year, many Canadians plan to turn to search engines for information. About one in four Canadians will turn to a search engine for information on reversing hair loss/balding (25%), reversing signs of aging (27%), and weight loss advice (24%). A similar per cent would book an in-person appointment with a doctor for weight loss advice (25%), however, only 18 per cent would book an in-person appointment for information on reversing hair loss/balding, and 14 per cent for reversing signs of aging.

Gen Z is the most likely generation to turn to social media as their first source of information, with 12 per cent turning to social media for information on reversing signs of aging and weight loss advice, and 11 per cent for reversing hair loss/balding.

HOW CANADIANS LEVERAGE AI FOR WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT

Despite AI becoming increasingly intertwined with everyday life, only 9 per cent of Canadians would turn to AI as the first source of information to support personal care goals for 2026. However, more trust it with treatment recommendations. For instance, 24 per cent of Canadians trust AI with recommending anti-aging treatments, and 19 per cent trust it with recommending hair loss treatments. Trust in AI for recommendations is highest when it comes to weight loss, with 37 per cent of Canadians trusting AI to provide recommendations on weight loss strategies, and even more so with tactics for weight loss:

• 44 per cent of Canadians trust AI to calculate daily calorie intake to lose weight
• 41 per cent trust AI with creating a meal plan to lose weight
• 39 per cent trust AI with creating a fitness plan to lose weight

"While online sources like search engines, social media, and AI provide quick and easy access to information, they can also put patients’ safety at risk. Unlike a doctor, these sources lack accountability, credibility, and transparency," says Dr. Mark Broussenko, Medical Director at Phoenix. "Google and ChatGPT provide answers based on the questions you ask, but a doctor knows the right questions to ask you to ensure the guidance you receive is accurate, relevant, and truly tailored to you. This is where telehealth offers an important middle ground – platforms like Phoenix offer a quick and safe way to access tailored advice from a trusted medical professional. ”

WOMEN’S HEALTH IN 2026

Overall, the survey found that women will be prioritizing the following personal care goals in 2026 more than men: losing weight (70% vs 65%), reversing signs of aging (47% vs 31%), and reversing or reducing hair thinning/balding (32% vs 20%). Women are also more likely to be influenced by social media, with 16 per cent of women turning to social media as their first source of information on support for personal care goals, versus only 9 per cent of men.

Earlier this year, Phoenix launched Raven, a new Canadian platform dedicated to women’s health, to increase access to trusted online medical care designed around women’s needs and lifestyle.

“The start of a new year is a great time to prioritize health and wellness concerns that you haven’t had the time to address, but the best way to go about that is talking to a doctor who can support you in providing credible information and creating a tailored plan to achieve your goals,” says Gavin Thompson, co-CEO and co-founder of Phoenix. “With Phoenix and now Raven, we’re removing the barriers of appointment backlogs and clinic wait times that typically stand between Canadians and responsive healthcare,” adds Kevin Bache, co-CEO and co-founder of Phoenix.

WHY AREN’T DOCTORS THE #1 SOURCE OF INFO?

The primary reason Canadians would not choose an in-person doctor appointment as the first step in getting advice on their health/wellness goals is that they don’t consider their health and wellness goals to be enough of a reason to book a doctor’s appointment (38%), followed by significant wait times to get an appointment (27%).

Generational nuances also play a role in attitudes toward booking an in-person doctor appointment for information to support health and wellness goals. Older generations are somewhat less likely to view their health and wellness goals as sufficient motivation to book a visit, with 42% of Baby Boomers, 36% of Gen X, 38% of Millennials, and 35% of Gen Z sharing this perspective. On the other hand, younger generations are more deterred by significant wait times, as this concern is most pronounced among Gen Z (34%), followed by Millennials (28%), Gen X (27%), and Baby Boomers (22%).

To connect with a doctor for information and advice on how to kick start your 2026 New Year’s Resolutions, visit www.phoenix.ca for men’s health and www.getraven.com for women’s health.

ABOUT PHOENIX

Phoenix is Canada’s leading digital health clinic for men, specializing in three areas of treatment – erectile dysfunction, weight loss, and hair loss. Phoenix also launched Raven, a telehealth platform that provides trusted online medical care designed around women’s needs and lifestyle. Both platforms facilitate access to licensed Canadian physicians, treatment options, and free, discreet shipping of prescription medication from coast to coast. Visit phoenix.ca and getraven.com to learn more.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

These findings are from a survey conducted by Phoenix from December 10th to December 12th, 2025, among a representative sample of 1,500 online adult Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.