You Are What You Eat (UK TV Show)
Encyclopedia
This article is about the UK television programme. For the 1968 film, see You Are What You Eat (film)
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You Are What You Eat is a dieting programme
aired in various forms between 2004 and 2007 on British broadcasting company Channel 4
, and presented by Gillian McKeith
. The fourth series was called You Are What You Eat: Gillian Moves In.
. Another technique is the analysis of the participant's faeces by McKeith to detect certain problems and make them known to the person involved. This aspect of the show gained McKeith the nickname "The Awful Poo Lady". Emphasising the possibility of the participant's death is sometimes used, with references to children they might not see growing up or a mock grave being prepared. Generally, editions would have these scenes in the first part followed by the participant's attempts to follow McKeith's diet and exercise regimes in the second. The fourth series was expanded from half to one hour programmes, with the contestants moving to McKeith's London house and being visited overnight at their homes for inspection.
and aired in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Viasat was the first company in the world to adapt the format locally. MTV3
also produced a local version of the show in Finland. The show was a success and it was the frequently most viewed show in Finland when it was aired.
Based on the results of 34 participants in the series the subjects all recorded significant weight loss with an average loss of 4.3 lbs per week and an average 12.7% of body weight lost over the 8 weeks. This compares to recommendations by the British Dietetic Association
that weight loss be in the region of 2lb or 1kg per week or 5-10% over six months, although participants were following the regimen under consultation with their doctors and generally starting from a high weight and a very poor diet.
via a distance learning programme from the American Holistic College of Nutrition, Alabama, which later became the Clayton College of Natural Health
before closing in 2011. The Clayton College of Natural Health stated that it was "accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board". However, this accreditation was never recognised by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
McKeith is also a member of the American Association of Nutritional Consultants
, a controversial organisation which seeks to enhance the reputation of Nutritional and Dietary Consultants by consolidating them into a professional organisation. It offers examination and certification, or association membership which does not require an examination but requires the payment of the $60 membership fee.
Nutritionist Carina Norris has written a number of official You Are What You Eat books
There is also one book written by Michelle McManus from her appearance on the show.
You Are What You Eat (film)
You Are What You Eat is a 1968 American counter culture semi-documentary movie that attempts to capture the essence of the 1960s flower power hippie era and the Haight & Ashbury scene...
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You Are What You Eat is a dieting programme
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
aired in various forms between 2004 and 2007 on British broadcasting company Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, and presented by Gillian McKeith
Gillian McKeith
Gillian McKeith is a Scottish nutritionist, television presenter, and writer. She is the former host in the UK of Channel 4's You Are What You Eat and Granada Television's Dr Gillian McKeith's Feel Fab Forever, and as of 2010 presents Eat Yourself Sexy on the W Network in Canada...
. The fourth series was called You Are What You Eat: Gillian Moves In.
Methods
The show often uses shock tactics to get the participants to lose weight. In each episode all food eaten in one week by the person(s) taking part is placed on a table to highlight problem areas of their dietDiet (nutrition)
In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. Dietary habits are the habitual decisions an individual or culture makes when choosing what foods to eat. With the word diet, it is often implied the use of specific intake of nutrition for health or weight-management...
. Another technique is the analysis of the participant's faeces by McKeith to detect certain problems and make them known to the person involved. This aspect of the show gained McKeith the nickname "The Awful Poo Lady". Emphasising the possibility of the participant's death is sometimes used, with references to children they might not see growing up or a mock grave being prepared. Generally, editions would have these scenes in the first part followed by the participant's attempts to follow McKeith's diet and exercise regimes in the second. The fourth series was expanded from half to one hour programmes, with the contestants moving to McKeith's London house and being visited overnight at their homes for inspection.
Spin-off series
Localized versions of You Are What You Eat were produced by ViasatViasat
Viasat is a DBS distributor and TV broadcaster, owned by the Swedish media conglomerate Modern Times Group. Broadcasting from London, the target markets are in the Nordic and the Baltic Countries...
and aired in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Viasat was the first company in the world to adapt the format locally. MTV3
MTV3
MTV3 is a Finnish commercial television station owned by Bonnier. It had the biggest audience share of all Finnish TV channels until Finnish Broadcasting Company’s YLE1 took the lead. The letters MTV stand for Mainos-TV , due to the channel getting its revenue from running commercials...
also produced a local version of the show in Finland. The show was a success and it was the frequently most viewed show in Finland when it was aired.
Weight Loss Effectiveness
Weight loss by participants was often significant, with some examples as follows:- Series 1. Episode 1. Yvonne Grant: Lost 28 lbs. Average 3.5 lbs per week. 11.4% of body weight lost.
- Series 1. Episode 5. Dean Mills: Lost 42 lbs. Average 5.3 lbs per week. 12.5% of body weight lost.
- Series 1. Episode 8. Nicholas Hughes: Lost 56 lbs. Average 7.0 lbs per week. 20.5% of body weight lost.
- Series 2. Episode 7. Joseph Heyburn: Lost 31.5 lbs. Average 3.9 lbs per week. 10.5% of body weight lost.
- Series 2. Episode 13. Geraldine Mawson: Lost 42 lbs. Average 5.3 lbs per week. 16.2% of bodyweight lost.
- Series 3. Episode 1. Irene Shingfield: Lost 38 lbs. Average 4.8 lbs per week. 15.5% of bodyweight lost.
- Series 3. Episode 2. John Harrison: Lost 56 lbs. Average 7.0 lbs per week. 14.8% of bodyweight lost.
Based on the results of 34 participants in the series the subjects all recorded significant weight loss with an average loss of 4.3 lbs per week and an average 12.7% of body weight lost over the 8 weeks. This compares to recommendations by the British Dietetic Association
British Dietetic Association
The British Dietetic Association is a professional association and trade union for dieticians in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1936 and became a certified union in 1982; it is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Trades Union Congress.The BDA was established in 1936...
that weight loss be in the region of 2lb or 1kg per week or 5-10% over six months, although participants were following the regimen under consultation with their doctors and generally starting from a high weight and a very poor diet.
Controversy
In the first series of the show, McKeith was sometimes referred to as "Doctor", and she has continued to use the title in some media, although the later series referred to her as a "holistic nutritionist", using the title "Ms. Gillian McKeith" at some points. It emerged in December 2005 that Gillian McKeith has no accredited doctorate. McKeith received her PhDPHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
via a distance learning programme from the American Holistic College of Nutrition, Alabama, which later became the Clayton College of Natural Health
Clayton College of Natural Health
The Clayton College of Natural Health was a non-accredited American distance-learning natural health college based in Birmingham, Alabama, offering classes in various forms of alternative medicine. The school was founded in 1980 by Lloyd Clayton Jr. as the American College of Holistic Nutrition...
before closing in 2011. The Clayton College of Natural Health stated that it was "accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board". However, this accreditation was never recognised by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
McKeith is also a member of the American Association of Nutritional Consultants
American Association of Nutritional Consultants
The American Association of Nutritional Consultants is an organisation which seeks to enhance the reputation of Nutritional and Dietary Consultants by consolidating them into a professional organisation....
, a controversial organisation which seeks to enhance the reputation of Nutritional and Dietary Consultants by consolidating them into a professional organisation. It offers examination and certification, or association membership which does not require an examination but requires the payment of the $60 membership fee.
Website
An official tie-in website was created in support of the show enabling viewers to complete an online questionnaire and receive a personalized nutrition suggestions.Books
There are books that have been published to accompany the series. The following are written by Gillian McKeith:- "If You Eat You Will Get Fat"
- You Are What You Eat Cookbook
Nutritionist Carina Norris has written a number of official You Are What You Eat books
- You Are What You Eat Mealplanner
- You Are What You Eat Total Health Overhaul
There is also one book written by Michelle McManus from her appearance on the show.
- You Are What You Eat: Michelle's Diary