167: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke - Episode 167

167: The Relaxback UK Show with Mike Dilke - Episode 167

What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? While this conversation isn’t about alcohol directly, it speaks to something anyone in recovery will recognise: the power of small, consistent health choices over the long term. The Relaxback UK Show host, Mike Dilk, chats with GP and author Dr Rangan Chatterjee about “health resilience” – how everyday habits stack up over years to shape your future.

They talk frankly about how most people, and the NHS itself, tend to be “quite reactive when it comes to health rather than proactive”, waiting for problems like type 2 diabetes, heart disease or dementia to appear instead of acting early. Dr Chatterjee shares results from a survey of over 2,000 adults, showing many people avoid seeing their GP and prefer to “struggle on” with symptoms.

He argues that vague advice like “lose a bit of weight and move more” rarely changes behaviour, especially if you’re busy, stressed, or already feeling fed up. The conversation turns to his preventative health service, dohealth, which focuses on 11 key blood biomarkers, such as fasting insulin and homocysteine.

These tests, he says, can reveal disease risk years before diagnosis and are all changeable through lifestyle: “Heart disease, strokes, dementia does not have to be in your destiny, even if your parents had it.” Instead of drowning people in data, the system keeps it simple, offers specific, personalised recommendations, and rechecks results to keep motivation up. Mike also pushes on digital health and wearables, and Dr Chatterjee explains why endless numbers alone rarely shift long-term habits.

Belief, support and clear feedback are just as important as steps or calories. If you’re rebuilding your life and want your body to back you up for the long haul, this conversation might get you asking: what could proactive health look like for you over the next 10–20 years?