Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NG THE FAT
Nine overweight people move in together to talk obesity for new TV show
Hitting 25st five years ago, Del opted for bariatric surgery and has now lost 0st and runs marathons.
He says: “My journey from morbid obesity and weight-related illnesses to great medication-free health has already inspired others. I was in a dark place, now I’m in the best shape ever.”
Sales director Del has even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and run the London Marathon since his operation.
He says: “I wanted to show that by eating less and doing more physical activity, which I now do, there are more benefits than just being able to fit into a pair of skinny jeans. Your health truly is your wealth.”
When he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last year, Jack was scared for his future and decided to finally take action.
He began eating more healthily and started an exercise regime, and is now osing weight. “My weight had ballooned to 24 and a half stone. I feel it is largely a consequence of my own actions. I want to show that some fat people actually want to take ownership and accountability.”
HGV driver Jack frequently battles Victoria in the series when she claims obesity does not mean ill-health.
He invited a Type 2 diabetes sufferer to the house to talk about how the disease led to his leg being amputated last year.
Stand-up comic Jed’s motto is “Here for a good time, not a long time”. During filming, he took the group to watch a gig, where his fat jokes were put under the microscope.
“Some days I’m comfortable in my body, other days I hate it,” he says. “I’m not happy. I want to change who I appear to be. Other days I appreciate my depth as a human and understand my differences.”
Having always avoided GP visits for fear of what he might be told, the series encourages him to get a diabetes test and vow to attend medical checks. He says: “Some people look after cars better than I’ve looked after my health.”
We really are a growing nation – with more than a quarter of us now officially obese.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of health problems and premature death, causing a huge strain on the NHS.
But what is it like to live as an overweight person, with an appearance increasingly subjected to public scrutiny?
In a thought-provoking BBC documentary called Who Are You Calling Fat?, nine obese people move into a house in Oxfordshire for a week to weigh up the big issues.
From a fat activist who objects to the word “obesity” and is an “intuitive eater”, to a man diagnosed with diabetes who is desperate to lose weight and save his health, every housemate has a startlingly different point of view.
In the house, they debate whether obese people should do anything about their weight or embrace their size.
What should the Government do? How should people talk about obesity? And should it be celebrated?
John Wass, a Professor of Endocrinology and an Obesity Empowerment Network member who was a consultant to the series, says he hopes the show will kick-start a very important national debate.
He says: “We are living through a global pandemic, where obesity is now considered a bigger problem than world hunger.
“The series explores a number of crucial medical and policy issues, and also promotes empathy and understanding. The cure is not as simple as just eating less and exercising more.
“We now know science is identifying genes that contribute to weight and obesity by affecting appetite.
“There are also people in the series who describe themselves as body positive, a small but increasingly vocal movement in ‘fat politics’ that responds to years of stigma and discrimination.
“It is important we hear and understand all points of view in this often heated debate.”
So to get you ready, here’s our guide to the residents…
Who Are You Calling Fat? is on BBC2 on Monday and Tuesday at 9pm.