What medical condition does Dana White have? Inside the UFC President's Health Challenges

September 30, 2025 •

2 min read

According to a 2022 medical test, UFC President Dana White was told he had just 10.4 years left to live if he didn't change his lifestyle. This shocking revelation followed a long battle with a significant inner ear disorder, leading many to ask, what medical condition does Dana White have?

Quick Summary

UFC President Dana White has publicly revealed struggles with Ménière's disease, high triglycerides, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. His health journey and dramatic lifestyle changes followed a worrying life expectancy prognosis from a specialist in 2022.

Key Points

Ménière's Disease Diagnosis: In 2012, Dana White was diagnosed with Ménière's disease, an inner ear disorder causing severe vertigo and hearing issues.
Limited Life Expectancy: A 2022 medical evaluation by Gary Brecka warned White that his lifestyle gave him a life expectancy of only 10.4 years.
Metabolic Health Crisis: White's tests revealed high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and severe sleep apnea, a combination associated with metabolic syndrome.
Lifestyle Transformation: After the health scare, White adopted a strict ketogenic diet and other lifestyle changes, resulting in significant improvements.
Successful Management: White has publicly stated that his new health regimen has reversed his metabolic issues and alleviated his sleep apnea and leg pain.
Treatment Approaches: White's Ménière's symptoms were improved through procedures like Orthokine (PRP) therapy after initial surgery was unsuccessful.

A History of Health Struggles

Dana White, the charismatic and outspoken CEO of the UFC, has openly discussed his personal health battles over the years. His challenges have ranged from a debilitating inner ear disorder to a more recent metabolic health crisis that prompted a complete lifestyle overhaul. Understanding his health timeline offers insight into the resilience required to manage chronic conditions and make transformative changes.

The Inner Ear Battle: Ménière's Disease

In 2012, White revealed his diagnosis of Ménière's disease, a debilitating inner ear disorder characterized by severe vertigo, temporary hearing loss, and a spinning sensation. This condition was serious enough to cause him to miss a UFC event for the first time in over a decade.

To combat Ménière's disease, White explored various treatments, including surgery in 2013 which was not fully effective. He later sought Orthokine therapy in Germany, a PRP treatment recommended by Alex Rodriguez, which reportedly significantly reduced his symptoms.

A Wake-Up Call: The Metabolic Crisis

In 2022, White received a dire health assessment from health biologist Gary Brecka. Testing revealed high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure (160/110), and severe sleep apnea, indicative of metabolic syndrome. Based on these results, Brecka estimated White's life expectancy at just over ten years without significant changes.

The Health Transformation: A Complete Turnaround

The alarming prognosis motivated White to adopt Brecka's recommended regimen, leading to a dramatic lifestyle change. He embraced a strict ketogenic diet and other wellness practices, which he credits with reversing his health issues.

Dietary Changes: Switched to a low-carb, keto-style diet, eliminating processed foods and sugar.
Lifestyle Improvements: Implemented a new regimen that improved sleep apnea, eliminated leg pain, and resulted in substantial weight loss.

Comparison of Dana White's Health Conditions


Condition	Symptoms	Primary Impact	Treatment Attempts	Status
Ménière's Disease	Vertigo ("spinning feeling"), hearing loss, tinnitus (ear ringing), ear pressure.	Inner ear balance and hearing disruption.	Surgery (2013), Orthokine/PRP therapy.	Symptoms reportedly greatly reduced or resolved with therapy.
Metabolic Syndrome	High triglycerides, high blood pressure, high insulin, sleep apnea, leg pain.	Increases risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.	Keto diet, targeted supplementation, overall lifestyle changes.	Markers reportedly reversed or significantly improved with diet and lifestyle.

Conclusion: A Public Journey to Wellness

Dana White's health journey highlights the challenges of managing chronic conditions and the potential for transformative change. His openness about his struggles with Ménière's disease and later, metabolic issues, underscores the importance of prioritizing health. By making significant lifestyle changes, White has reportedly improved his health and well-being.

For more general information on Ménière's disease, consider consulting resources like the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, which is maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can cause sudden episodes of vertigo, a spinning sensation, as well as fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and a feeling of pressure or fullness.

Initially, Dana White underwent surgery to help drain excess fluid from his ear, but this was not fully effective. He later found relief with Orthokine therapy, a form of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment he received in Germany.

In 2022, Dana White underwent medical testing with Gary Brecka and was diagnosed with extremely high triglyceride levels, severe sleep apnea, and high blood pressure, consistent with metabolic syndrome.

Yes, following his blood work and genetic testing in 2022, Dana White was informed by health biologist Gary Brecka that he had approximately 10.4 years to live if he continued his unhealthy lifestyle.

Dana White adopted a strict ketogenic diet, cut out sugar and processed foods, and implemented other lifestyle changes recommended by Gary Brecka. These changes led to significant weight loss and improvements in his health markers.

According to White himself, his health has dramatically improved. He has stated that his sleep apnea has been remedied, his leg pain alleviated, and his concerning metabolic markers have been reversed.

Gary Brecka is a 'health biologist' and co-founder of 10X Health Systems. He performed medical testing on Dana White and provided a personalized plan, including a ketogenic diet, which White credits with saving his life.