Dr Michael Mosley, a pioneer of intermittent fasting, died while on a walk on the Greek island of Symi in 2024, with his body being discovered four days after he went missing
Dr Michael Mosley’s son says he remains “surprised” by the remarks he hears about his father. Michael passed away on the Greek island of Symi after going missing during a walk in June 2024.
The 67-year-old was discovered just over two miles from the private resort where he was staying with his wife Dr Clare Bailey Mosley. He had been missing for four days at that point.
Michael was recognised by many for his groundbreaking work on the 5:2 diet, which advocated intermittent fasting. It resulted in television appearances on programmes including The One Show, Horizon, and Trust Me, I’m a Doctor.
Now his son, Dr Jack Mosley, has disclosed that people frequently stop him in the street to talk about his father’s contributions. This comes as Jack says his father’s efforts helped “tens of thousands of people” shed weight.
Michael, and the work he undertook with Clare, even inspired Jack to become a GP himself. He has now assumed leadership of the Fast800 from his father, reports the Mirror.
He stated: “He’s had a really big impact on me, they both have really, and they were part of my inspiration to become a doctor, because it was something they were so passionate about and I could see how many tens of thousands of people they had helped with their passion for improving the nation’s metabolic health.
“People tell me all the time how much of a difference my dad has made to their lives and really it has dramatically improved their health. In a way it’s almost surprising at times when people say, ‘I’ve lost X amount of weight’.”
Jack is spearheading The Fast 800 Online Programme, which he describes as a “lifestyle programme” that expands on his father’s work. It provides three types of meal plan: the “Very Fast 800”, utilising an 800-calorie plan for weight loss over 12 weeks; the 5:2 intermittent fasting plan; and a long-term Mediterranean diet plan.
The programme also offers exercise guidance through workout plans, incorporating both high-intensity interval training and resistance exercises, as well as educational content explaining the science behind weight loss.
Jack further explained: “The plan was based on a study that found that 800 calories a day for 12 weeks, this rapid weight loss, can reverse their diabetes, which was not thought possible before and if they kept 10kg of weight off, they could keep their diabetes in remission.
“It progressed from there to be this overall lifestyle support system for people who want to have this rapid weight loss and improve their metabolic health but also, there’s people who want to do it more gradually by fasting, like the 5:2, which my dad famously popularised.
“It’s also there to help people with other aspects that we know are so important in your health like exercise, including aerobic, and also mindfulness. It’s this real complete support system and helps provide people with a group of people to do it with who are on the same page.”
