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Ruth Clegg, a health and wellbeing reporter, decided to undergo a comprehensive full-body health scan, an experience she found unexpectedly unsettling. The procedure took place at a futuristic clinic in Manchester, where dozens of cameras captured more than 2,000 images of her skin alone. As she stood in a large curved scanner, a robotic voice instructed her to stay still and close her eyes while classical music played softly. This detailed imaging was intended to record every mole, mark, and freckle for analysis of potential skin cancers. The data collected by the scan would be used to create a 3D AI-generated avatar of her body.
The popularity of health MOTs, which provide extensive preventive screenings, has grown rapidly over the last two years. Companies like Prenuvo, Ezra, and Neko Health have attracted considerable investment due to increased public interest, with many willing to pay significant sums for such services. Unlike some offerings that use whole-body MRI scans, Ruth chose Neko Health’s less intensive but more affordable option priced at £299. Demand for this type of scan is high, evidenced by a waiting list of 100,000 people. The tests screen for a variety of conditions, including skin cancer, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, eye problems like glaucoma, and kidney or blood disorders.
Despite the promise of early disease detection, the medical community remains divided about the effectiveness of these scans for healthy individuals. While supporters like Neko Health’s co-founder Hjalmar Nilsonne advocate for making preventative care universally accessible, some NHS professionals express concern. NHS England cautions that such screenings might increase cases of over-diagnosis, unnecessary testing, and anxiety among patients. Nilsonne emphasizes that prevention is preferable to cure, but acknowledges that technology must complement expert clinical judgment to ensure accuracy.
Ruth also shared experiences from two other women who underwent similar screenings with very different outcomes. Annabel Mason-Thompson felt disappointed after her scan failed to detect four cancerous skin lesions, which were only found after a doctor reviewed her concerned report. On the other hand, Mehvish received a life-changing diagnosis of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) following her scan,
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