In a deeply moving and candid interview, Clare Bailey Mosley, the widow of beloved health expert and television presenter Michael Mosley, has given a simple yet profoundly heartbreaking answer to what would improve the quality of her life.
A Love That Endures Beyond Loss
During a recent Q&A session with The Guardian, Clare, a retired GP who met Michael at the Royal Free Medical School and married him in 1987, was asked a series of personal questions. The conversation covered topics from her earliest memories to her favourite books. However, it was the questions concerning love that elicited the most poignant responses.
When asked to name the "greatest love" of her life, she offered a one-word reply: "Michael." She elaborated on the feeling of love as a sense of "connection, warmth, somebody you can trust and, quite happily, say nothing to."
The emotional weight of her loss became even clearer in response to a subsequent question. Asked what single thing would enhance her life's quality, Clare once again gave the same, simple answer: "Michael." This heartfelt repetition underscores the enduring impact of the health guru, who tragically died in June 2024 after disappearing on the Greek island of Symi.
The Mosley Family's Health Legacy
Alongside sharing her personal grief, Clare and the couple's son, Dr Jack Mosley, have continued to promote the accessible health advice that Michael championed. In a recent post on Jack's Instagram, they highlighted a simple test for longevity and brain health.
Clare posed the question: "Did you know that being able to stand on one leg for more than 10 seconds in middle age is associated with longer lifespan?" Jack explained that this simple act of balance is linked to less frailty, fewer falls, and better overall brain health.
"It integrates so many different things that you don't think of – from coordination, strength, even your inner ear, and, of course, your eyes," Jack stated. "It's a window into how well you're ageing." He recommended enjoyable activities like dancing, tai chi, and yoga to improve balance, and fondly recalled his father's habit of standing on one leg while brushing his teeth as a clever way to incorporate the practice into a busy day.
Reviving Michael's Timeless Diet Advice
As the New Year began, one of Michael Mosley's most straightforward dietary tips resurfaced in headlines. The method focuses not on what you eat, but when you eat it. Michael had explained that his busy schedule often led to dinners "well after 9pm," but his family made a conscious effort to shift their last meal to around 7.30pm while cutting down on late-night snacks.
This advice was backed by research from the University of Nottingham and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A 12-week study involving 82 women found that those who finished eating by 7.30pm lost more weight. The lead researcher reported that the early eaters shed an average of 15lb, compared to less than 11lb for late eaters—an extra 4lb lost simply by changing meal times.
Through these shared memories and continued advocacy for simple, evidence-based health practices, Clare Bailey Mosley and her family ensure that Michael's legacy of improving public wellbeing lives on, even as they navigate their profound personal loss.
