Liver Doc locks horns with Deepinder Goyal over gravitational ageing: 'Show evidence'

Kerala-based liver specialist and influencer Dr Cyriac Abby Philips aka The Liver Doc and (right) Zomato and Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal

Zomato and Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal and Kerala-based liver specialist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips — popularly known online as The Liver Doc — have traded sharp blows over scientific credibility and wellness claims, after Goyal appeared to call the doctor “bullsh**” during a recent podcast interview.

The exchange stems from criticism by Dr Philips of what he described as an unscientific “Gravitational Theory of Ageing” that Goyal has spoken about publicly while promoting a wellness product.

Reached out to Liver  Doc, but he declined to meet over Zoom: Goyal

In an episode of the Raj Shamani Podcast, Goyal said he had initially reached out to Dr Philips privately to discuss the theory after the hepatologist labelled it pseudoscience online.

“I had sent him a message purely from the respect for whatever he does,” Goyal said. “I told him since you’re calling it pseudoscience, please come on Zoom, I will explain (our work) to you and then you can decide. And if you tell us we are wrong, I’m happy to admit it in public — ‘Sorry guys, this is wrong’.”

Goyal claimed Dr Philips declined the invitation and instead posted multiple critiques on social media. “But he said he doesn’t have time and then proceeded to share six lengthy posts,” the Zomato and Eternal CEO added. “That’s when I figured he only has the time for bullsh**.”

Goyal also said he had “lost respect” for the doctor following the exchange. “I don’t think people like Liver Doc are interested in listening. They only want to talk,” he said.

The Liver Doc hits back over ageing claims

Responding in a long post on X, Dr Philips accused Goyal of using an “ancient, already debunked gravitational theory of ageing” to market a wellness product without scientific evidence.

“Doctors and scientists, including me, call it out and warn people about misinformation packaged as ‘wellness’,” he wrote, adding that the product had “no scientific basis”.

Dr Philips likened the wellness pitch to “a fat band‑aid stuck to the temple” and said the theory had been questioned by scientists long before the podcast clip went viral.

He also confirmed that Goyal had reached out to him privately, but said he rejected the offer of a one‑on‑one discussion. “I said it was a waste of time to discuss this one-on-one. If there is evidence, it should be presented publicly so everyone can benefit,” he wrote.

Bigger debate on wellness claims

Sharing clips from the podcast, Dr Philips drew parallels with extreme longevity experiments in the US and warned that India could be heading towards a similar flood of unverified wellness narratives.

“The future of wellness is cooked. Never delivered. Definitely not in 10 minutes,” he wrote, in a pointed reference to food delivery culture.