Dr Michael Mosley’s wife, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, made the revelation when she was asked about what we need to do to maintain our health and keep on top of our weight
Dr Michael Mosley’s wife has shared the “world’s healthiest” diet. In efforts described as stepping into the “shoes” of the late health guru, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, a retired GP, and their son, Dr Jack Mosley, have penned three healthy eating books: The Fast800 Favourites, Eating Together, and Food Noise.
A veteran broadcaster with a career spanning nearly 20 years, husband and father Dr Mosley was famed for his health-themed shows and for being an advocate for intermittent fasting and the 5:2 and the Fast 800 diets. He tragically died in June 2024 after going missing on the Greek island of Symi.
Speaking on stage alongside Jack, Clare was asked about what we need to do to maintain our health and keep on top of our weight, to which Clare conceded that losing weight can, in fact, be “really difficult”, and there are “all sorts of myths”.
Clare told Good Housekeeping UK: “There’s a lot of evidence that, actually, rather than slow and steady, you want to…rapid weight loss is a very effective way of doing it because you see the results very quickly, you don’t get bored and the…if you do it rapid, you’re more likely to keep the weight off.”
She added: “And you know, and again, it’s based on the Mediterranean-style diet – less pasta and pizza – but apart from that, it’s a very healthy diet, which actually works across the world. It’s the world’s healthiest diet pretty much.”
She described how the diet is about eating “fruit, veg, lots of seeds, pulses, including lots of olive oil” (noting that it’s anti-inflammatory) as well as “some meat” and “some dairy”, but “not huge amounts”.
The Mediterranean diet has long been hailed as a healthy approach to eating.
Generally focusing on whole foods, including fruit, vegetables and whole grains, it also sees people eating less processed food, writes Healthline.
Inspired by the cuisines of countries along the Mediterranean Sea, such as Italy and Greece, some research has indicated that those who reside in these areas tend to enjoy a lower risk of many chronic illnesses.
It was compared to people consuming what the publication described as a “standard American diet”.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the diet has made headlines, though. In 2024, Tracey Parker, the nutrition lead at the British Heart Foundation, hailed the diet and shared a simple version with the Telegraph that doesn’t need a huge list of ingredients.
She noted that a breakfast could feature only Greek yoghurt, fresh fruit, nuts and seeds. Meanwhile, her lunch suggestion was lentil soup with wholegrain bread. As for dinner, she suggested baked salmon with brown rice and vegetables.
Finally, for those of us who fancy a snack, she recommended fruit, nuts, veg or hummus.