Experts calling for Operation Transformation to be taken off the air

I'm glad Operation Transformation is scrapped …. I never liked that programme and agree with the reasoning why it should be scrapped …. people were brought to tears several times on the programme ….. it also was a vehicle dreamt up by Noel Kelly to promote initially the late Gerry Ryan …. and then Kathryn Thomas …. and the Henrys …. all clients ….

The programme besides its harmful influence and association with the RTE of the Tubridy era …. it simply was too long on as well …. it had run its course …. it represented the lack of invention …. I know it was popular back around 2008 when it started but I don't think it was watched much in the last few years …. a lot of these programmes go on too long and this is one of the biggest examples of all ….

All the WRONG programmes end up going on and on …. and the right programmes are ended too soon …. Love/Hate et al …. I hope Kin will be back for a 3rd series …. it is this sort of show we want to see more of …. not OT and the rest ….

It's true though so the conversation should lead with the facts.

He gave the same figures back in 2016

"For some years now we have realised that weight gain is 90pc irreversible for 90pc of people. It's a very important reality that needs to be understood and accepted.

"Then prevention - and in particular in childhood - becomes the primary goal. "The research we are doing with the National Children's Research Centre is focused on the immune system and regulation of weight - and that's where the explanation for this dynamic defence against weight loss is to be found.

"Ultimately understanding that will lead to treatments for obesity, but it really should be prevention, prevention, prevention."

https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/weight-gain-is-often-irreversible/34691464.html

That's the message that needs to be getting out there to those who are currently normal weight or overweight, prevention. Chances are if you become obese you will not be able to get to a healthy weight without medication, and even medication doesn't work for everyone. I'm not sure what the chances are of being able to lose it if a person is just overweight and not obese but it does seem to have a decent success rate because I think we would all know quite a few who went from overweight to normal/slim and stayed at a healthy weight.

And for people who are already obese who think well I can't lose the weight I might as well order pizza I think to those people there needs to be a large emphasis that even if the weight isn't shifting that a healthy diet can still benefit them in numerous ways and that an unhealthy diet and overconsumption is going to make things a lot worse. As bad as you feel now you're going to feel a lot worse in 2 years or 5 years if you keep ordering pizza.

I think the facts are kinder in some ways and harsher in others, but they are the facts regardless and the conversation about obesity and preventing it and reversing it has to lead with the facts.

It is the word 'irreversible' that is incorrect. It is more accurate to say that 90% of people will not reverse weight gain. That has a very different meaning. 'Irreversible' implies not possible to reverse rather that the truth which is 'will not reverse'.

Almost everyone that goes on a diet will not sustain weight loss as the concept people have of a diet is not useful as a fix for weight gain. Instead of going on a diet people should be correcting their diet permanently. Unfortunately too many diets are started with the full intention of going back to eating mountains of junk after the diet.

Follow the science

I think it goes way beyond that. Many people that are of normal weight or slightly over weight also have a diet based on junk food, which is going to make them sick. Its staggering that most people go into supermarkets and fill their trolleys with junk, thinking they are buying healthy food. Breakfast cereal, sliced pan, yoghurts full of sugar, most people think such things are healthy food.

Interesting question.

Yes, to a certain extent. It's generally obvious which people are having difficulty in making changes to their life, and you want them to succeed and get the results they're after.

But at the same time, a personal trainer is not a psychologist. My brief was to give these people the information they needed to get what they wanted, and after that it was pretty much up to them.

And I don't really believe most people who are overweight are mentally ill or need therapy. It is incredibly simple to lose weight but that doesn't necessarily make it easy. Food that makes you fat is generally nice to eat so you don't want to stop eating it.

Just exercise a little self-control, make small long-term changes, establish a routine and be consistent. I don't think that requires therapy.

I get you. Yeah it would have been standard practice to check in at every session regarding just those factors (these were typically high-paid professionals who worked silly hours, slept too little and often ate shite as a result) . More than once I recall taking people into an office for a chat rather than the gym session they had paid for because I knew it might do more good.

Though if I'm being honest, it was the element of the job that interested me the least.

At the time I just wanted to train people and became frustrated at what I saw as people paying me good money for my expertise and then ignoring it. Perhaps a little callow but I was but a pup in my twenties.

I left the job after a couple of years and started working as strength and conditioning coach for which I am paid a lot less but have a lot more job satisfaction.

You're a coach and limited by your lack of knowledge regarding obesity

I find news articles never quote what was said in its entirety so it's hard to know exactly what was said or how well he explained it. I think there does need to be clarity and factual information, but then you can't help it if you're misquoted.

He did say that people can lose it but they'll put it back on again.

What issues are you talking about? The obesity or the issues that people often report when they are restricting calories like low energy, low libido etc?

That was a quote from 2016 from an article I posted where he was discussing prevention. He said it in the one you yourself posted earlier in the thread.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/doctors-warned-to-stop-telling-obese-patients-eat-less-move-more-is-their-treatment/a1838111061.html

Weight gain is 90pc irreversible for 90pc of people, he added. You can lose it, but you will put it back on again.

Well I've never looked up any studies on it because I would believe the anecdotal evidence because it makes perfect sense. If someone is on a low calorie diet and they've stopped burning fat also then of course some things are not going to be running properly in favour of other more important things, but yes the research is there.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/calorie-restriction-risks#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6

Did you think it wouldn't be? How would you expect everything in the body to be working efficiently if the body isn't getting enough calories and it's also not burning stored fat? It's not going to just magic up energy to run everything. Obviously some things are shutting down or running very poorly.

It gets enough to keep functioning at a very reduced rate……….but some things will be shut off like the reproductive system, libido, the person will be very fatigued, some people will suffer hair loss, their body doesn't have the energy to keep growing healthy hair, the immune system can be impaired, the person can have brain fog etc.

It's not 'enough' if the body can't function in a healthy way on that many calories.

It's 'enough' as in they'll stay alive, but it's not healthy.

I've heard stories from people working in the HSE health promotion department, from people who would normally be tasked with reading the most up to date research, recommending policy and coming up with campaigns. Basically upper management decided they were going to bring in consultants rather than listen to their own staff. Deloitte (fairly sure it was them) basically said people don't like being held personally accountable so recommended the HSE medicalise obesity. Not popular with the people now tasked with implementing these new policies.

They've been told to stop saying obese people or people with obesity, they're now people living in bigger bodies...

Would you mind elaborating on that? Do you mean the psychological issues, specifically? Metabolic factors, medical conditions etc?

Only watched it once or twice when it came out first - then found that they are back in the stone age by weighing in Stones ?

We need to move on to Kilo's - we use them everywhere now

I think you may have taken me up wrong, to a certain extent. My point was that weight loss is a simple proposition. It's not complicated (generally speaking, obviously). People that make it complicated should be treated with a certain amount of skepticism.

I'm not judging anyone who is overweight. It's difficult for a lot of people to lose weight. But it's not complicated

Have the previous campaigns actually had any success in reducing the obesity crisis? or have any of the previous policies had any notable success? It doesn't seem that that is the case….what up to date research out there is genuinely going to make a difference?

Obesity is now considered a disease by many countries and also by WHO and the European commission, surely it would be only a matter of time before Ireland were forced to classify it as a disease if the EU were saying it.

And if it's a disease then how could they not medicalise it there is medication available and the previous 'treatments' have not had a good success rate?

It doesn't help that people like Lizzo are seen as some kind of role model when she is a walking heart attack.

If she wants to eat herself into an early grave let her off but stop calling it body positivity.

Eva Orsmond was the only one on that show who gave it to them straight and pushed them to do more and RTE got rid of her.

Right, but some isn't hereditary so do you feel the same about it then?

No you're not suffering from a disease after not exercising for a few weeks, you're the one who brought that nonsense into the debate so that nonsense comment must have been directed at yourself 🤔

Seeing obese children eating junk food in restaurants with their parents is all too common these days.

No.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/obesity/

Your GP will check: 

• your weight and height, to calculate your body mass index (BMI)
• your waist circumference
• if you have any health problems that are linked to obesity

They may diagnose you with obesity if you have a high BMI and any health problems linked to obesity.

Getting a diagnosis of obesity

Your GP will assess your:

• body mass index (BMI)
• waist circumference
• weight-related health problems

Your GP may ask about:

• how your weight impacts your health
• your work and home environment
• your sleep, diet, and physical activity
• if you feel stressed
• smoking and drinking alcohol
• your family history
• weight-related health problems
• medicines you are taking that may be causing weight gain

Body mass index (BMI)

Your BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres.

Work out your BMI using the safefood BMI healthy weight calculator.

People with a BMI of 30 or more have a high risk of obesity.

Waist circumference

Your GP will measure your waist to see where you carry your weight.

The amount of weight you carry around your tummy can affect your:

• hormones
• immune system
• risk of heart disease and diabetes

If you have more fat in your belly area than elsewhere, this may increase your risk of obesity.

For men, you have a higher risk of health problems if your waist circumference is more than 102 centimetres (40 inches).

For women, you have a higher risk of health problems if your waist circumference is more than 88 centimetres (35 inches).

Waist size cut offs are lower for people of certain ethnicities because of a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Learn how to measure your waist circumference - safefood.net

Health problems linked to weight

Your GP will check if you have any health conditions linked to your weight.

These conditions include:

• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• raised liver enzymes
• pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes
• heart disease
• muscle or joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis
• physical limitations, such as shortness of breath and poor mobility
• mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression

They may also carry out health checks to find out if your weight puts you at risk of developing health problems. These checks could include blood tests and measuring your blood pressure.

This will help your GP to understand your risk of obesity. They will help you decide on the best treatment plan.