BBC One orders The Truth About... Cosmetic Treatments and The Truth About... Takeaways
BBC One adds two more programmes to their science strand The Truth About… that tackle the everyday issues that affect us all.
Published: 6 November 2019
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The Truth About... Cosmetic Treatments
Cosmetic treatments are on the rise - the industry is now worth nearly four billion pounds in the UK and we’re getting well over a million treatments a year - double a decade ago. It’s not about long invasive surgeries anymore - 90% of today’s so called cosmetic ‘tweakments’ avoid the knife altogether.
In this two-part series, presenters Michael Mosley and Mehreen Baig are going on a science-driven investigation exploring the brave new world of cosmetic enhancement. They’ll look at whether these procedures actually do what they claim; how safe they are in what is a largely unregulated industry; and whether just because science has reached a point that it promises the face and body we want is it actually a good idea for our physical and mental health?
The first programme looks at the latest cosmetic treatment trends for the face. Dermal fillers are now incredibly popular and beauty clinics offering them are popping up everywhere. Most patients have no complications with these dissolvable synthetic hyaluronic acid filler treatments. However, Michael discovers that charity Save Face are seeing an dramatic increase in problem cases and over 80% of the complaints they receive are about procedures carried out by non-medics; a lack of regulation means that anyone can inject fillers, training is not mandatory and practitioners do not have to have insurance.
Science has recently provided alternative technologies that claim to increase collagen production and make the skin taught, lessening the demand for facelifts. Dr Tamara Griffiths from the University of Manchester will run an experiment comparing three treatments - CO2 laser; microneedling and collagen supplements - to see if they really can defy nature - and discover which is most effective.
The second programme focuses on treatments for the body. It tests the claims of a variety of treatments - from a device that says it can lift and tone the bottom using electrical currents to a weight loss procedure that uses infra-red light to increase metabolic rate.
Jack Bootle, Commissioning Editor, Natural History Unit and Specialist Factual, says: “The non-invasive cosmetic treatment industry is booming in the UK and yet is almost entirely unregulated. The Truth About Cosmetic Treatments will put the latest treatments to the test and look deeply into the impact these procedures can have on our physical and mental health.”
The Truth About... Cosmetic Treatments (2x60’) for BBC One, is made by BBC Studios' The Science Unit. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, TV Content and Jack Bootle, Commissioning Editor, Natural History Unit and Specialist Factual. The Executive Producer for BBC Studios is Paul Overton.
The Truth About... Takeaways
As a nation, we’ve never eaten more takeaways. In the past year, the UK spent a staggering £12.5 billion on takeaways. They now make up 12% of UK food spending and one in six young people aged 16-20 now eat takeaway meals twice a day.
Journalist Nikki Fox loves an occasional takeaway but wants to find out what’s really in them. The Truth About... Takeaways will test what takeaways are really doing to our bodies and discover the shocking truth about the impact they can have on our brains. With the help of academic experts, Nikki will uncover what’s really in the nation’s favourite convenience treats - from the hidden horrors to the surprisingly healthy.
In partnership with Liverpool John Moores University and Imperial College London, six volunteers take part in the first ever study to test the true impact of what regular takeaway consumption can have on our health - from blood sugar levels to liver function, mental wellbeing and cognitive sharpness. Nikki will also undergo brain scans and ultrasound tests to see how a takeaway affects her own body and mind.
Why exactly are takeaways so delicious? Can takeaways become addictive? Nikki looks behind the scenes to learn the trade secrets of the most popular takeaways in the UK. She also investigates whether there are healthier alternatives to consider when choosing your next tasty treat and learns more about the fastest growing area of the sector: vegan takeaways.
The Truth About... Takeaways will reveal what’s really going on in our takeaways, and how we might enjoy them in a way that’s better for the nation’s health.
Tom Coveney, Commissioning Editor, Science, says: "With a staggering number of dishes now only a click away, we're using the very latest science to lift the lid on takeaway treats. The results will no doubt be shocking and surprising."
The Truth About... Takeaways (1x60') for BBC One, is made by BBC Studios' Science Unit. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, TV Content and Tom Coveney, Commissioning Editor, Science. The Executive Producer for BBC Studios is Jacqueline Smith.
