In one of his last interviews before his shocking and untimely death at the age of 67, Dr. Michael Mosley told how his drive to maintain his health stemmed from not wanting to die “early” like his father, who lived to be 74.
Speaking at the end of April about his motivations in comments that have now become tragically poignant, the much-loved columnist and TV doctor said his father, Bill, “never saw his grandchildren grow up”.
“I thought this was not the path I wanted to take,” Dr. Mosley told an interviewer.
The father-of-four – whose TV series included advice from “overachievers” on how to stay young – told how his father, a banker, developed diabetes in his 50s, just as he did too.
“When my father retired, he would sit on the sofa and watch sport, which was very bad for him,” Dr Mosley told The Telegraph.
In one of his last interviews before his shocking and untimely death at the age of 67, Dr. Michael Mosley told how his drive to maintain his health stemmed from not wanting to die “early” like his father.
Dr. Mosley (top right) pictured with his parents and brother in Hong Kong in 1962. His father, Bill, died at the age of 74 and never saw his grandchildren grow up
In one of his influential columns in the Daily Mail, the health expert detailed how the final years of his father's life were also “rotten” by “invasive” surgery to remove his prostate after a blood test showed high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
“In fact, he died of unrelated heart failure several years after the operation,” Dr. Mosley wrote in an article republished in yesterday's Mail.
Determined to learn from the loss of his father, after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2012, Dr. Mosley changed his diet – successfully beating the disease and inspiring countless others to follow his example with his blood sugar-reducing diet and the 5:2 diet. Nutritional. .
Explaining how this led him to create what may be his most lasting legacy, Dr Mosley told the interviewer: 'When my GP told me I should start treatment, it wasn't supposed to come as a shock, because my father developed diabetes around the same time. “. age.
Then he died. I wasn't supposed to be shocked, but I was.
“I saw what happened to my father,” he told The Telegraph.
He died at the age of 74, which is early these days.
Dr Moseley pictured with his wife Dr Claire Bailey Moseley who said they had “no intention of giving up work”
The father of four was found dead on the Greek island of Symi on Sunday morning after taking a wrong turn on a mountain road.
His body was discovered just 260 feet from the resort's bars and security at Agia Marina
The aerial map above shows where Dr Mosley's body was located, bringing a tragic end to a five-day search for the beloved health guru.
Greek police confirmed that the body found yesterday was that of Dr. Michael Mosley (pictured)
Dr Michael Mosley carried a small water bottle with him as he made his dramatic trek through the mountains in sweltering 37°C heat. The map above reveals his final moments
Dr Mosley was filmed on CCTV carrying an umbrella in the town of Pedi before taking a wrong turn on a mountain road.
“That looks young.” He did not see his grandchildren grow up.
“I thought this is not the path I want to take.”
He added that Dr. Mosley's refusal to consider retirement was also influenced by the early loss of his father.
“I am 67 years old and many of my colleagues are now retired,” he added.
He said neither he nor his wife of nearly 40 years and frequent collaborator, Dr Clare Bailey Moseley, “have any intention of giving up the work,” and added: “Why would you give up?”
“I'm very happy to continue writing, giving public speeches, and making TV shows and podcasts.”
Dr. Mosley added that having friends who are doctors – one of his sons is a doctor – has helped keep him in touch with the latest health research.
But just as important is the simple act of cultivating friendships, something men in particular find more difficult in retirement.
Young British volunteers and family friends walk the road to Agua Marina near Peddie on Friday as they search for Dr Mosley
Friends and volunteers in Symi, Greece, where a search and rescue operation was underway for Dr. Mosley
Dr. Mosley with his wife Claire on their wedding day in 1987 almost 40 years ago
“Men are not good at forming relationships, in general.
“And when they reach retirement, they suddenly realize that they have no friends.
“There's a lot of research that shows the benefits of giving your time, meeting up with friends, things like that.”
As his family, colleagues, and those whose lives he impacted for the better over the decades mourn the loss of Dr. Mosley, they can take comfort in how his legacy of hope and positivity will live on.
