Hiary Dieters

Peddle Up!

I've just watched the "Hairy Dieters" on iPlayer. Leaving aside the fact that the concept has a touch of "we sold you the disease, now we'll sell you the cure" about it, I was amazed at the claimed impact of their dieting and a little sedate cycling on their blood pressure. From (unspecified) and medicated "high" to something like 90'ish over 70'ish for each of them - the reading taken at the roadside immediately after a ride. :shock:

I've seen a beneficial shift in my BP from regular exercise and eating sensibly, but nothing like this. Could it be because they were still on medication depressing their BP to what seems a bit low, to be honest? :?

mercsport

I watched it on the night and was similarly perplexed by the strangely low/healthy readings from the 'on the spot' BP test that the good doctor performed upon our amiable chums (i.e. assessed from looking at the pair of them: flabby tubs of lard. Much like myself). Nor did Dave and Si' look athletically inclined to any degree when they were twiddling those pedals. It also made me wonder how much pedalling they had actually done, as they looked as if they wouldn't make it to the first corner.

But yes, I wonder how factually correct the BP figures were in actuality? I know it was a programme about cooking, but were they cooking the numbers too? I suppose we have to accept that there's a lot of editorial license in the makeup of programmes like this.

Peddle Up!

mercsport wrote:

But yes, I wonder how factually correct the BP figures were in actuality? I know it was a programme about cooking, but were they cooking the numbers too? I suppose we have to accept that there's a lot of editorial license in the makeup of programmes like this.

Quite. Encouraging people to take up a healthy life is very laudable, but giving false hope (if the numbers were fudged) is not.

airbag

mercsport wrote:

I watched it on the night and was similarly perplexed by the strangely low/healthy readings from the 'on the spot' BP test... Nor did Dave and Si' look athletically inclined to any degree when they were twiddling those pedals. It also made me wonder how much pedalling they had actually done...

I wonder how factually correct the BP figures were in actuality? I know it was a programme about cooking, but were they cooking the numbers too? I suppose we have to accept that there's a lot of editorial license in the makeup of programmes like this.

Was going to say pretty much that (and as far as I could tell, any time they mentioned the health benefits (rather than arse/saddle jokes), it cut to a freewheeling shot!). Those figures were... worrying, frankly. I still enjoyed the show though, in the same way I enjoyed frozen planet.

DaveHudson

As an entertainment show it's pretty good, Bit sceptical about all the figures they mention with regards to the weight loss. 1200 kcal a day is quite low, I'm using myfitnesspal and that's recommending 1450kcal a day to lose 2lb a week.

campagone

I wonder if the food they are making is actually the calories they claim/think it is, I'd like to see some scientific testing done on the takeaway or pie for example to see wheter or not it is as they claim. I expect it's not far off but I remain a bit sceptical, I must add I've never been one to properly count calories when I'm making food.

finchy

Probably the calories in a curry is inaccurate because most people leave about half of the sauce.

Peddle Up!

Plus, of course, and what is underplayed in the series, probably the biggest factor in their weight loss - they've stopped drinking. :roll:

martinwitnam

If the figures used for the blood pressures is correct it is actually quite worrying as during and just post-exercise your blood pressure is actually supposed to go up.
This is one of the pre-requisites of doing an exercise tolerance test. If the blood pressure does not go up then the test is stopped and classed as being a failure. Signifying quite serious cardiac disease.

fungus_the_muffin_man

Dont forget they are also on beta blockers. They couldve done the test just as they had kicked in. Or even.be on wrong doses.

Peddle Up!

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

Dont forget they are also on beta blockers. They couldve done the test just as they had kicked in. Or even.be on wrong doses.

You'd think the "TV Doc" who did the tests would be aware of that. :roll:

keef66

Could depend on how hot they were after the exercise. Vasodilation has a profound effect on blood pressure. I once measured mine after a hot bath; spectacularly low figures :shock: