If you’ve been following, you know that I am highly critical of the show OT for many reasons – among them weight shaming –  and you can have a scroll back through previous posts on OT.  

It’s Week 7, and I finally found a moment from this show that I like.  Honestly.  It was Davina Devine on the stage at the George talking about inclusivity and safe space. I didn’t know I could have a favourite moment from OT, but – finally – there it is.  I talked alot about it last week about how social connections and inclusion are important to health.  Full stop.   Marginalisation and loneliness are major health risks.

It seems to be a week that drag queens are ruling RTÉ with sensible health promotion advice. And I’m here for it. 

Because last night’s OT follows this past Sunday’s Dancing with the Stars.   I loved Rory O’Neill’s (aka Panti Bliss) paso doble  on DWTS last Sunday. (Everything about it, really, but I’ll just focus on the health here.)   He used the platform to promote the U=U message.  Essentially, HIV is now treatable. With medication, the viral load will stay so low that it is Undetectable and is then also Untranmissable. Judge Arthur remarked at the end of the dance how important it was to get that message out.  And it was.  It was a powerful piece of health promotion and messaging.   (Did you miss it?  You can watch it here:  https://youtube.com/watch?v=ohPWSPFk2fA&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE)

So, as my simply amazing colleague says: “Yass Queens!” 

A health promotion message is good not only if it is correct, but is heard by the audience that needs to hear it.

Okay, so let’s round it up here with the SEVEN best and the worst health messages in Week 7 OT:

1. Public weigh-ins. Every week.  It’s just fat-shaming.   No point.
2. Also fat-shaming was the entire sequence of watching one leader struggle to squeeze into clothing. Weight is not beauty.
3. It is so wrong that it is still promoting diet culture.  “you can still go out….” Or “When you return to real life….” quotes.   Short, intensive, and unsustainable changes to lifestyle are not how health is done.
4.  The messaging from Quit.ie was good.   Those stop smoking. supports are available to EVERYONE in Ireland.  Go to quit.ie and get information.  What they could have done more?  Your GP or chemist can also help you select NRT (nicotine replacements). If you are a smoker, they are safe.  Tried a few times?  Talk to your GP (or a doc like me!) Did you know that we can actually prescribe short term, non-addictive meds for around 12 weeks to help your success? (Watch this space! I’ll be talking more about smoking cessation this weekend!)
5. FitBit anxiety is real. Many patients are freaked out when their hearts are just doing their job. Your heart goes fast, it goes slow. If it’s freaking you out – that’s fine.  The solution?  If you get checked out by your doc, and your fine – but still freaked out?  Just take off the fitbit. Really.
6. Also good point from last night? Cholesterol is impacted by exercise and diet.   Even if genetics are a factor.  This is an important thing about genetics. That’s one thing we can’t control – but we can still make a difference with things we can control.
7. Rest and stay home when you are ill. Everyone will thank you for it, and you’ll feel better faster.

Hopefully, this will be the last year for Operation Transformation.  If RTÉ feel the need for a further series in 2024, I have some thoughts on simply fabulous new hosts ….