Are you closer to your mother or your father? I have a good relationship with both, but if I really had to choose, I’d say I’m closer to my mother. She’s always been a bit more aware of what’s going on in my life, whether at school, in my work or in my personal life. My father, on the other hand, was always on the sidelines of the football field when I was playing. I call my mother a few times a week, usually while driving home from work, just to catch up. I like to share things. When I delivered my inaugural lecture, my family and in-laws sat in the front row. Moments like that make you realise how lucky you are to still have each other and get to share such experiences.
Look beyond the kilos. That was the title of my inaugural lecture. Obesity is incredibly complex. Sadly, there are still many prejudices against people who are overweight. They’re stigmatised and told to just eat less and exercise more, but it’s not that simple. There are many causes; stress or certain medications can also lead to weight gain. To help people with obesity, you need to look at the whole picture. Someone might be dealing with financial problems, and in that case, debt counselling could be the first step in getting their life back on track, which in turn allows them to focus on living a healthier lifestyle. Effective obesity treatment requires a tailored approach, medically speaking as well. Not everyone who is overweight will benefit from the same treatment.
What product should supermarkets stop selling? None, but they should offer more healthy options. Currently, over 80 per cent of supermarket products are unhealthy. In my opinion, this imbalance needs to be addressed by offering more healthy alternatives and making it easier for people to make healthier choices.
Be proud of who you are, stay true to yourself and keep your feet on the ground
My next holiday will be to… Austria. We’re going skiing with a few other families. I’m a decent skier, although my technique could use some refinement. My wife has been skiing since she was fifteen, and our children started when they were little. I only started skiing later in life, so I always have to put in a bit more effort. Fortunately, I’m in good shape, but our children will probably be whizzing past me on the slopes within a few years.
If you had a time machine, where would you go? [Pauses] Hmm. I wouldn’t go to the future – I don’t need to know what’s coming. And I don’t really feel the need to look back, either. I live in the moment, and I’m happy where I am. I’d like to just stay right here.
What annoys you? I’m not easily annoyed, but I can get tired of people who always see the glass as half-empty. For me, it’s half-full. I always try to make the best of every situation and not dwell on things too long, especially if there’s nothing you can do about them anymore. I also struggle with people who think they’re better than others, including in organisations. I believe everyone’s opinion matters, and to me, everyone is equal, no matter their background or education. Be proud of who you are, stay true to yourself and keep your feet on the ground – those are the life lessons I was taught and now pass on to my children.
I’d like to be more patient, scientific impact is a long-term process
If I weren’t a health scientist… I’d be a landscape architect or gardener. I love being outdoors. We have a big garden with lots of flowerbeds, and I love working in it. I do have green fingers. My wife sometimes laughs when she catches me standing there with a cup of coffee, admiring a flower that’s just bloomed, but I get so much joy out of things like that. Gardening clears my head – I call it active relaxation.
What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you? I feel I’ve lived a fortunate life. But last year, my father-in-law suffered a stroke, and my brother-in-law was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. Events like these really put things into perspective.
I’m worried about the current political climate. I see a particular lack of respect in the House of Representatives. As an MP, you’re supposed to be a role model; you don’t honour that position by constantly turning on your colleagues. You’re there to serve the people and find solutions together through dialogue. The unfiltered comments some politicians post on social media are especially concerning. Constructive criticism is fine, but it should focus on the message, not the person. Putting personal gain above the good of the community is not the way forward.
I still need to learn… I’d like to be more patient. While I’m not particularly impatient, sometimes I have so many ideas but lack the resources to act on them immediately, and I find it hard to wait. I want to make a difference for people with obesity now. But scientific impact is a long-term process. You have to accept that solving a complex puzzle takes time, and that’s something I find difficult.