#OperationTransformation is over. And while they promised (threatened?) to come back next year, I know I’m not alone in thinking this is a good place to leave it the entire series. Actually, let’s be honest: it is over-due. If RTÉ needs to create wellness programming to capitalise on the annual New Year’s health kick in 2024, it’s time to consider different type of programming.
Over the past 8 weeks, there were moments of health wisdom that were really good. They were overshadowed, however, by incredibly problematic elements: public weigh-ins, forcing leaders to exercise through injury or eat food they hate, denying burn out, and subtle mockery (cutting tomatoes or squeezing into too-tight clothing). I’ve unpacked all of this at length on weekly reviews.**
Last night the programme was simply: you look better because you lost weight. As each leader came out, the emphasis was on how great they looked. The presenter prompted their families to comment on how great they looked. Then they added up the weight loss. While they threw out on additional health metric with weight, it was all about weight.
Sorry, Kathryn, all of those contestants were beautiful before they went on your OT journey. And they are beautiful now. And their beauty has no relationship to the scale.
Weight is Not Beauty. This message is really, really important.
Weight is not an aesthetic problem. Obesity is a complex, chronic, and progressive disease.
The continued framing of obesity as a cosmetic problem perpetuates weight stigma/weight bias. It adds to the problem of securing both public and private reimbursement for expert, consultant-led bariatric and obesity services and adds to barriers for patients who need expert care.
**What went wrong, what went right, and what’s the evidence behind Operation Transformation? You can have a look back at the weekly breakdown:
Week 1:: OT Episode One: I watched it. Against my better judgement
Week2: Operation Transformation Week 2: Yes, they still did the public weigh-in
Week 3: OT Week 3 – The breakdown
Week 4 I’m on OT, Get Me Out Of Here” – Should it be an Option for Leaders?
Week 5 OT Week 5 – We’ finally going to talk about smoking
Week 7 Yass Queens!
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