Health in body and mindHealth in body and mind
All In The Mind
Conditions such as depression, anxiety, obesity, diabetes, and gut problems are common in Australia. British TV presenter Dr. Michael Mosley, who’s known for his Fast diet and exercise programs, says there are effective preventive measures which highlight the crucial connection between body and mind. He shares knowledge from experts and those with lived experience on how to reset your health.
29:05•3 Mar 2019
Health in Body and Mind: Michael Mosley on Diet, Depression and Real Change
Episode Overview
- Physical conditions such as obesity and gut issues may drive inflammation that affects the brain and contributes to depression.
- A Mediterranean-style, anti-inflammatory diet showed significant benefits for people with depression, especially when changes were substantial.
- Antidepressants can be very helpful for severe depression but offer limited benefit for mild symptoms, and many people receive no support at all.
- Practical strategies like making healthy options the easiest choices and clearing out tempting foods can matter more than relying on willpower.
- Specific, time-bound goals and social support increase the chances of sustaining lifestyle changes that support both body and mind.
“"Willpower is grossly overrated."”
Get ready to be moved by real-life accounts of how closely mental health is tied to physical health. On All In The Mind, Lynne Malcolm chats with British TV doctor Michael Mosley about his series *Reset*, which looks at how bodies, guts and minds are linked in ways science is only just catching up with.
You’ll hear Mosley explain how obesity, inflammation and the gut microbiome may affect mood and depression, and why junk food can leave you feeling flat in more ways than one. He talks candidly about his own panic attack in a cave and his later struggles in a brain scanner, giving a clear sense of how terrifying panic can be even when you "know" you’re safe. The episode also brings in lived experience.
Sarah, who has had depression and anxiety since youth, describes feeling as if “dementors have got you” and shares how dietary changes through a Melbourne study shifted her symptoms after years on and off medication. Professor Felice Jacka explains that the more participants improved their diet toward a Mediterranean-style pattern, the greater their reduction in depression, with some reaching full remission.
GP Dr Grant Blashki weighs in on antidepressant use, time-pressed doctors, and why some people who really need medication never get it, while others with mild symptoms might not benefit much. Professor Ed Bullmore’s work on inflammation and depression broadens the picture further, suggesting mood can be affected by immune activity and visceral fat. Mosley also talks practical change: making healthy choices easier than unhealthy ones, clearing out cupboards, setting very specific goals, and involving friends or communities.
He’s frank about how transforming his own diet, activity levels and habits reversed his type 2 diabetes and lifted his mood. Anyone interested in mental health, chronic illness, or how food and lifestyle might support recovery will find plenty to think about here. Could changing what’s on your plate change how you feel?
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