This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/23261653
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Binge eating has scarred my liver' | |
| (3 days later) | |
| When actor Ricky Grover, 51, was asked to take part in a TV programme testing for three serious health conditions he had no qualms in signing up. | When actor Ricky Grover, 51, was asked to take part in a TV programme testing for three serious health conditions he had no qualms in signing up. |
| 'I was due an MOT anyway as it had been a few years since my last check-up,' he said. | 'I was due an MOT anyway as it had been a few years since my last check-up,' he said. |
| 'I was expecting to pass them with flying colours like I had done in the past.' | 'I was expecting to pass them with flying colours like I had done in the past.' |
| But the former EastEnders star was in for a nasty surprise. | But the former EastEnders star was in for a nasty surprise. |
| The show Long Live Britain was investigating heart disease, liver disease and Type 2 diabetes, the hidden killers which are responsible for 200,000 deaths in the UK each year. | The show Long Live Britain was investigating heart disease, liver disease and Type 2 diabetes, the hidden killers which are responsible for 200,000 deaths in the UK each year. |
| And tests revealed Mr Grover was showing signs of two of them. A skin-prick test revealed he had Type 2 diabetes while an MRI scan showed scarring, known as fibrosis, on his liver. | And tests revealed Mr Grover was showing signs of two of them. A skin-prick test revealed he had Type 2 diabetes while an MRI scan showed scarring, known as fibrosis, on his liver. |
| 'It was a real shock,' the actor and comedian said. | 'It was a real shock,' the actor and comedian said. |
| 'I thought it was only big drinkers that had problems with their liver, but it turns out obesity is a major cause.' | 'I thought it was only big drinkers that had problems with their liver, but it turns out obesity is a major cause.' |
| Weighing over 21st when he signed up to the programme, Ricky admits he was a 'big bloke.' But he thought the fact he didn't drink much alcohol and had a relatively healthy diet would protect him. | Weighing over 21st when he signed up to the programme, Ricky admits he was a 'big bloke.' But he thought the fact he didn't drink much alcohol and had a relatively healthy diet would protect him. |
| 'I have always eaten healthy food but my problem is I'm a binger,' Mr Grover explained. | 'I have always eaten healthy food but my problem is I'm a binger,' Mr Grover explained. |
| 'I get cravings for sugar, it is an addiction actually. If I was watching TV with a bag of chocolates I couldn't stop after taking the first bite. | 'I get cravings for sugar, it is an addiction actually. If I was watching TV with a bag of chocolates I couldn't stop after taking the first bite. |
| 'Also doing this show revealed that my portions were too big. I thought it was fine to eat half a chicken for a meal, but I was told I should just be having one thigh.' | 'Also doing this show revealed that my portions were too big. I thought it was fine to eat half a chicken for a meal, but I was told I should just be having one thigh.' |
| The actor's Body Mass Index reading, which measures a person's weight in relation to their height, revealed he was 'morbidly obese.' | |
| 'The weight had crept on, it was hard to keep track of it as it went up and down quite a bit,' Mr Grover said. | 'The weight had crept on, it was hard to keep track of it as it went up and down quite a bit,' Mr Grover said. |
| Being obese puts extra strain on the liver and can cause an accumulation of fat in the organ. Over time this can increase the risk of developing scarring known as liver fibrosis, which in turn can lead to a loss of function known as cirrhosis. Obesity also increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. | Being obese puts extra strain on the liver and can cause an accumulation of fat in the organ. Over time this can increase the risk of developing scarring known as liver fibrosis, which in turn can lead to a loss of function known as cirrhosis. Obesity also increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. |
| The actor also admitted he had experienced some typical diabetes symptoms but chose to ignore them. | The actor also admitted he had experienced some typical diabetes symptoms but chose to ignore them. |
| 'I put my symptoms down to age and stress' | 'I put my symptoms down to age and stress' |
| 'I had noticed a bit of numbness in my feet, felt thirsty quite a lot and went to the loo in the night, but I put it down to age and stress,' he said. | 'I had noticed a bit of numbness in my feet, felt thirsty quite a lot and went to the loo in the night, but I put it down to age and stress,' he said. |
| Taking part in Long Live Britain finally forced Mr Grover to take a long hard look at his health. | Taking part in Long Live Britain finally forced Mr Grover to take a long hard look at his health. |
| He was taken to a recycling centre to demonstrate how eating too much fat prevents the liver from functioning properly and met Lorraine, who had end stage liver failure and was waiting for a transplant. | He was taken to a recycling centre to demonstrate how eating too much fat prevents the liver from functioning properly and met Lorraine, who had end stage liver failure and was waiting for a transplant. |
| 'Out of everything that visit really hit home,' Mr Grover said. | 'Out of everything that visit really hit home,' Mr Grover said. |
| 'I realised it was make or break time. Luckily for me I should be able to control my diabetes with diet and exercise for now. My liver also isn't too damaged so it can repair itself if I do the right things. | 'I realised it was make or break time. Luckily for me I should be able to control my diabetes with diet and exercise for now. My liver also isn't too damaged so it can repair itself if I do the right things. |
| 'I've been given a second chance.' | 'I've been given a second chance.' |
| Since making the show Ricky has started doing daily half-hour boxing sessions with a personal trainer. | Since making the show Ricky has started doing daily half-hour boxing sessions with a personal trainer. |
| 'Being an actor can be quite stressful, so it's been good for that as well,' he said. | 'Being an actor can be quite stressful, so it's been good for that as well,' he said. |
| 'I also walk my dog Bubba-Joe, but he's eight-years-old now so he takes his time.' | 'I also walk my dog Bubba-Joe, but he's eight-years-old now so he takes his time.' |
| He has also tackled his diet. | He has also tackled his diet. |
| 'I've got juicers, blenders, food dehydrators, all sorts!' he said. | 'I've got juicers, blenders, food dehydrators, all sorts!' he said. |
| 'My house looks like a white goods store. This morning I drank a large juice and I've got some almond nuts and fruit with me. It's about planning each day to beat the cravings. I'm feeling really positive.' | 'My house looks like a white goods store. This morning I drank a large juice and I've got some almond nuts and fruit with me. It's about planning each day to beat the cravings. I'm feeling really positive.' |
| With his wife and daughter's support, Ricky has lost more than a stone and says he has got five more to go. | With his wife and daughter's support, Ricky has lost more than a stone and says he has got five more to go. |
| 'The one thing I would say after doing this programme is it's really important that people have regular check-ups,' Mr Grover said. | 'The one thing I would say after doing this programme is it's really important that people have regular check-ups,' Mr Grover said. |
| 'That way you can nip problems in the bud.' | 'That way you can nip problems in the bud.' |
| Dr Phil Hammond discusses how we all have responsibility for our own health on the BBC TV blog | |
| Ricky Grover's story is featured on Long Live Britain, at 9pm, Monday 22nd July on BBC One | Ricky Grover's story is featured on Long Live Britain, at 9pm, Monday 22nd July on BBC One |