Mark Sainsbury: 'WHY I NEEDED TO CHANGE'

After a health scare, the broadcaster stepped up to the plate and lost 15kg

- Wendyl Nissen

For many years, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury’s winning personality and flamboyant moustache saw him working at some of the top jobs across radio and television as a journalist of some stature.

Now aged 66, he still has the facial hair and the charisma, but his stature has disappeared thanks to a recent 15-kilogram weight loss.

He’s very much an example of the message Men’s Health Week hopes to get across to Kiwi males this year.

“Our whole thing is about stuff that men needlessly die from,” explains Mark. “Diabetes, suicide and heart disease are the top three. Yes, we’re all going to die, but we’re all about stopping preventable deaths.”

Mark has managed to reduce his blood pressure so now he no longer takes medication and while he has type 2 diabetes, his blood sugar levels are more normal these days.

In 2017, he told his listeners on his morning RadioLIVE show that he needed to change, saying, “I had the hard word from my doctor the other week – I need to lose five or six kilos. Why? Apart from the obvious – I’m too porky – my blood sugar and blood pressure are creeping up. But now starts the dilemma. My friends and colleagues have no end of suggestions and options. So, what’s the right answer? Cut the bread? Cut all carbs? Don’t eat carbs after midday? Cut the alcohol?”

Mark started going to the gym to improve his health but then he would just eat more afterwards to compensate for the exercise.

“I stopped going to the gym and I lost 15kg,” he laughs. “But that’s not something I really want to promote because for many people, the gym is the right thing to do.