Dr Jack Mosley has explained the benefits – and dangers – of ‘gamechanger’ weight loss jabs as he published a new book picking up the legacy of his father, Dr Michael Mosley. The son of the late TV doctor is publishing a new guide to using weight-loss drugs as he honours his father’s memory.
Mosley, known for fronting BBC and Channel 4 documentaries on health and diet, popularised the 5:2 diet, a form of intermittent fasting, through his book The Fast Diet. He died aged 67 while on holiday on the Greek island of Symi last year, after going for a walk on the island in sweltering conditions.
Dr Jack Mosley, a GP registrar, who researched GLP-1 drug brands including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound with his father, has written the book Food Noise: How Weight Loss Medication And Smart Nutrition Can Silence Your Cravings.
Dr Mosley said: “My father, Michael, believed in empowering people with knowledge so they could take control of their own health.My hope is that this book might do exactly that: equip as many people as possible with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions around weight-loss drugs and to show that changes to your lifestyle and improving your diet is essential to keep healthy while you are taking the medicine.”
He believes the weight-loss drugs are a “gamechanger”, but thinks they need to be used safely so people do not become malnourished as a consequence of suppressed eating.
In Food Noise, he explains the science behind the diabetes and weight-loss drugs and suggests what to eat while using them, to maintain good nutrition and retain muscle mass, along with what to do to keep the weight off using recipes and meal plans after stopping the medication.
Semaglutide, commonly known by the brand names Wegovy or Ozempic, and tirzepatides such as Mounjaro and Zepbound, have been increasingly used outside of diabetes for weight loss. Wegovy and Mountjaro can be bought from online pharmacies without needing to visit a GP in the UK, and Ozempic has been “prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes to protect supply for diabetes patients” under guidelines.
Concerns about the misprescribing and potential supply shortages of these drugs has led to the General Pharmaceutical Council tightening the criteria under which they can be given to patients by online pharmacies. Dr Bailey Mosley, also a GP, has written recipe books including The Fast 800 Recipe Book, The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet Recipe Book, The Fast 800 Easy, The Fast 800 Keto Recipe Book and The Fast 800 Treats to accompany Mosley’s work.
She said: “As a family, we have been truly humbled by the countless stories we’ve heard from people who tell us Michael made a meaningful difference to their lives. I am thrilled that Octopus is supporting Jack and me in continuing what we regard as a family mission: arming as many people as possible with the information they need to live healthier and happier lives.”
In December, a coroner recorded an open conclusion into Mosley’s death, and concluded that the “most likely” cause was either “heatstroke (accidental) or a non-identified pathological cause”.
There was a search for Mosley, after the doctor-turned-science broadcaster was originally reported missing in June, while on holiday with his wife, before his body was found days later. In July, the BBC honoured the presenter with a day dedicated to him, with presenters and audiences encouraged to do “just one thing” to improve their well-being.
He had presented BBC Radio 4’s Just One Thing, and the BBC series Trust Me, I’m A Doctor, which looked at healthcare in Britain. Short Books, part of Octopus Publishing, will put out Food Noise by Dr Mosley on April 24, while Eating Together by Dr Bailey Mosley comes out on September 11.
A spokesman for Octopus said: “Food noise” is described as “the internal chatter in our brains that sparks hunger and the urge to eat,” adding: “Weight loss drugs work by muting this food noise, making it easy to eat less. Jack knows this new generation of ’miracle’ weight loss drugs is a game changer. But he also knows many patients using them are buying online, where they may not get the lifestyle and dietary advice they need to use the drugs safely. Some are left frail or even malnourished.
“Food Noise carefully and clearly explains the science behind GLP-1s and reveals what to eat while using them to ensure you keep essential nutrients in your diet and retain muscle mass. Jack also explains how to build lasting eating habits that will continue to tune out food noise long after you’ve stopped taking the medication, helping you to keep weight off for good.”
Dr Clare Bailey Mosley’s new cookbook Eating Together: A Recipe for Parenting has been co-written with Professor Stephen Scott, Professor of Child Health and Behaviour at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London.
She said: “The benefits of regularly eating together cannot be underestimated. In our busy lives we increasingly grab food on the run, or in front of the telly. Yet by simply making time to sit together and chat about their day, children can develop better relationships, become more resilient, have a wider vocabulary and even do better at school. And by getting the kids involved, they are more likely to eat better and maintain a healthy weight. I hope Eating Together brings joy to the table.
“As a family we have been truly humbled by the countless stories we’ve heard from people who tell us Michael made a meaningful difference to their lives. I am thrilled that Octopus is supporting Jack and me in continuing what we regard as a family mission: arming as many people as possible with the information they need to live healthier and happier lives.”
Anna Bond, managing director at Octopus, said: “Octopus is very proud to be continuing to work with Clare Bailey Mosley on her bestselling cookbooks. Eating Together cleverly combines her passion for healthy food with her advice for parents about how to parent better via their family meals. Jack’s book picks up his father’s legacy of identifying the health knowledge gap and filling it with researched, expert advice in a warm approachable style that we can all trust.”