Michael Mosley – latest: TV doctor leaves Britain for the better, says friend in moving BBC tribute
The 67-year-old, who died on Greek island of Symi, ‘changed how we see ourselves, our health and wellbeing’
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The late television and radio doctor Michael Mosley leaves Britain for the better, after showing millions of people how to improve their health and wellbeing in easy ways, a friend and former colleague has said.
Scientist and broadcaster Dr Hannah Fry said in a special BBC documentary: “Dr Michael Mosley achieved what so many broadcasters dream of: he made a difference to people’s lives, changing the way we see ourselves, our health and our wellbeing.
“And in doing that for so many people, for so many years, he leaves Britain for the better.”
Dr Mosley , who died after disappearing on a walk on the Greek island of Symi, was aksi hailed as “one of the most important broadcasters of recent decades” in a special BBC Radio 4 programme.
It comes as his body is likely to be released to his family and repatriated by the weekend.
He was found to have died of natural causes on 5 June after setting off for a walk from Saint Nikolas beach at around 1.30pm that day in searing 40C heat without a mobile phone.
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‘A kind word in the ear'
“For the millions of us who have watched and listened to Michael over the years and those lucky enough to have known him, one thing is abundantly clear: his enthusiasm to communicate the latest science never dimmed,” said Dr Hannah Fry.
“He took every opportunity to open our eyes to a new piece of research, a better way of living – never telling, but encouraging, with a kind word in the ear, a nudge to do that ‘just one thing’, touching millions of lives in the most modest of ways.”
High-intensity exercise cut diabetes risk
Dr Mosley found that exercising at high intensity for three minutes a week, pedalling as fast as possible on a stationary bike, improved his aerobic capacity and lowered his risk of diabetes.
Cold water boosts mood, brain and immunity
Cold water swimming has the potential to boost your mood, brain and immune system, Dr Fry said.
And Dr Mosley “took the plunge, again and again”, eventually taking showers cold.
Good bacteria aids sleep
Taking good bacteria in the form of a probiotic powder improved Dr Mosley’s sleep, he found.
His good sleep went up from 79% to 92%, monitoring found.
Intermittent fasting reduced body fat
As Dr Mosley began to develop some of the conditions of middle age, he “interrogated his own health to help make us better”.
In a 2012 Horizon film called Eat Fast and Live Longer, he had his body fat analysed.
A man on a calorie-restricted diet had only 11 per cent body fat, whereas Dr Mosley had 27.1 per cent fat.
Although he was far from fat, his abdominal fat ratio was said to be a risk factor for cancer.
“After this unexpected news, Michael set out on a journey of discovery that would change not only his life, but the health habits of a nation,” said Dr Fry.
He embraced the idea of intermittent fasting. His body fat went down to 19 after this.
Tapeworm experiment
Dr Mosley even swallowed a tapeworm and a camera, revealing footage of the tapeworm in his intestines.
“That is horrible, disgusting. I actually quite excited, wow,” he said.
‘There was little he wouldn’t do for science'
Dr Mosley began made dramatised documentaries in his early days at the BBC.
But it was his experiment swallowing h.pylori to demonstrate the bug that causes stomach ulcers that brought him wider fame.
“There was little he wouldn’t do in the name of science,” said Dr Fry.
That included trying smoking and vaping.
‘An inspiration'
Dr Hannah Fry, who twice worked with Dr Mosley, said: “Michael's ability to connect with audiences was an inspiration. And when I got to know him, it came as no surprise that the off air, Michael was just as warm and friendly.”
‘He changed how we see ourselves'
Dr Mosley touched millions of lives in the most modest of ways, said scientist and broadcaster Dr Hannah Fry, who presented a BBC special.
“Dr Michael Mosley achieved what so many broadcasters dream of. He made a difference to people’s lives, changing the way we see ourselves, our health and our wellbeing. And in doing that for so many people, for so many years, he leaves Britain for the better.”
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