‘Because something is celebrityendorsed doesn’t make it accuarate’
Dr Ranj Singh will apply science to diet claims in his show Save Money: Lose Weight, he tells Gemma Dunn
Like many of us, Dr Ranj Singh hopes to shift a few pounds before summer – though perhaps this year more than most.
“I’ve got my 40th birthday coming up; it’s a big milestone for me and I NEED to fit into my partywear!” quips Ranj, This Morning’s resident doctor.
“I’m going to have a month of celebrations throughout June,” he says. “I’m going to have parties, I’m going on a cruise, I’m going to America on holiday... I’m going to make sure I celebrate it with a bang!
“But I am really conscious right now of how I look, so I want to be as healthy as I can and I want to feel comfortable,” he insists. “Everybody wants to look great on their birthday, don’t they?”
The return of his hit ITV consumer show, Save Money: Lose Weight, could help viewers with that.
Back with a brand new eight-part series, following a 60-minute special last month, Ranj and co-presenter Sian Williams will again look at how we can we beat the bulge without breaking the bank from uncovering vital moneysaving tricks to debunking weight loss myths.
How? The show’s unique 28-day road test returns to discover which off-the-shelf diet delivers the best value for money according to £s spent for lbs lost.
It’s a winning formula, states Ranj.
“One of my friends put it in a great, succinct way, he goes: ‘There are two types of shows that I love watching: one is health and two is money’,” he recalls. “And this show combines those two things that everybody worries about into one, and I think that’s why it’s so successful.
“It also cuts a lot of the nonsense out and gives people useful information that they can use in their everyday lives – and everyone is interested in that sort of stuff.”
So who will be putting the eight diet plans – which range from Slimfast Vitality and Vegan Keto to the new Dukan Diet and the Chloe Madeley Diet – through their paces?
“Our road testers in this series range from about 30 years old to 54,” Ranj says.
But while the celebrity diets featured (Madeley, Lisa Riley and Tom Kerridge) have seen results, it’s important to remain wary of the influx of plans upheld by endless famous faces, warns Ranj.
“What we have to be careful about is that you do not need a medical degree or a nutritional or dietetic degree to put out a diet. Anyone can do it,” he says.
“Just because something is endorsed by a celebrity, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s accurate or that it will give the results you want,” he continues. “And that especially becomes the case when you go onto social media, where there’s a huge issue around celebrity
“I found dancing became my exercise andiloveditandigot fitter and healthier”
endorsement of health plans and diets.
“It falls to people like myself and other healthcare professionals to try and provide balanced, accurate information that is evidence based,” adds the Nhs-trained clinician.
The same caution should be applied to the numerous products, treatments and gadgets peddled online – with Ranj recruited to investigate a variety in the show, from bodyfat measuring devices to slimming creams and beyond.
“I look at the science behind appetite suppressants and metabolism boosters; there’s a huge market for these,” he says.
“We also do some DNA testing because that’s being marketed quite heavily at the moment as well: ‘Test your DNA to find out which diet and exercise is best for you’.
“I’m dubious about this because I don’t think there’s good enough science yet,” he admits. “But I’m interested to find out what the results will be.”
Does he feel an additional pressure to look good himself, being in the public eye?
“Yeah, absolutely. And that’s part and parcel of the job, being on screen, that you’re acutely more aware of how you look – and there is a pressure to be a certain way,” he adds.
A huge turning point for Ranj’s health journey was his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.
“I hate exercise because it’s so boring and I used to force myself to do it,” reveals the star, who was partnered with professional Janette Manrara.
“And I found dancing became my exercise and I loved it and my body changed and I got fitter and healthier.
“I’ve started taking dance classes [now] – and it’s not just because I love dancing, it’s a great way to keep fit,” he maintains. “And it’s a great way to manage my weight.
“It’s all about finding that thing that you love doing,” he concludes. “I get excited about it – and I never thought I would say that!”
● Save Money: Lose Weight starts on ITV tonight at 7.30pm