TVScope: Transformed UTV, Monday, 9pm, August 15th
Yet another programme about obesity, this time about obese teenagers.
Four young people, Dominick (15), Vicky (15), Alisha (17) and Jody (13) are sent to a "house of correction" in the Scottish highlands.
Dominick is 5ft 9in, 20 stone with a 46in waist. He needs to lose at least seven stone. Vicky is 5ft 6in and 14 stone. She has panic attacks and has to lose three and a half stone. Alisha is 18 stone and needs to lose eight stone. She is angry and often aggressive towards her mother because of her food habits. She eats all day long, has dropped out of college and watches television non-stop. Jody is 5ft 4in and is already 14 stone with a 40in waist; he needs to lose three and a half stone. He "craves" food.
At the house of correction, they meet a team of experts consisting of an ex-marine, an obesity psychologist, a life coach and a nutritionist.
Over the next 10 days, they are put through an uncompromising regime of exercise, starting at 7.30am every day. Their food, which they have to learn to prepare and cook themselves, looks wonderful - I could definitely live on it.
They are brought mountain climbing, they jump off ledges into the sea and run one mile every day before breakfast, often in below-zero temperatures.
This programme was obviously made in winter, which is a time of year when many people find it hard to get out of the house.
The parents are also roped in and are told they are killing their kids through example and the food they put on the table.
All of the parents have pretty much given into everything in the past. They are told this must change if their children are to have a hope of achieving their goal of a healthier life.
This programme showed the devastating effect of obesity on self-esteem, self-belief and confidence.
All the teenagers felt bad about themselves with Dominick already fearing death. His father died at 44, also from overweight, and this still affects Dominick daily.
By the end of the 10 days, they have lost 11-17lbs, which is pretty good and goes to show what we can do if we are motivated and supported enough.
Unlike most programmes about obesity, this one was very supportive towards the teenagers and their confidence was boosted all the time.
When they returned home the really hard work started because now they had to rely on themselves with some support from their parents.
Both Alisha and Vicky had a few problems, with Alisha lapsing quickly and Vicky's weight staying the same for two weeks. The experts were asked to visit both girls. Alisha's television was taken away and it turned out Vicky was eating more food than she needed.
At the end of three months, they were brought back for a final weigh-in.
Dominick had lost three and a half stone, Jody three and a half stone - he is now a normal weight. Vicky has lost one and a half stone, but still needs to do some work, and Alisha has also lost three and a half stone. They all look great.
The question is, will they be able to maintain their new lifestyle?
This programme certainly showed the futility of fad diets and how being a healthy weight is a life-long process. However, it also looked fairly easy with great food and walks in the Scottish highlands - can't be all bad.
Jacky Jones is regional health promotion manager, HSE Western Area, and a member of the National Obesity Task Force.