Men's Health Week: Ben's Story

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your relationship with health growing up?

I was a kid who loved being outside with friends when I was in primary school, but growing up in the early 2000s came with the pull of online multiplayer games and the start of social media platforms. I spent most of my time chatting with friends online instead of socialising in after-school or sports clubs. By my early teens, I felt like I'd left it too late to pick up any new sports activities. I have a very different outlook now, and I love trying new things.

I ended up overweight in my teens. I remember a GP focusing on my weight and telling me it wasn't healthy. I internalised this as "my fault" and that I was "lazy". I was experiencing anxiety and panic, particularly around exercise. Mental health was still a taboo subject at the time, so I didn’t have the tools to understand or process this healthily. My school and doctor were focused on my weight and seemed to miss what was going on underneath.

What made you decide to make some changes to your health?

Honestly, I haven't always approached changes in a healthy way, and I made a lot of bad choices first. In my teens and early 20s, frustrated with my weight and low self-esteem, I engaged in restrictive dieting and obsessive, intense exercise. I believed this was the only solution, and whilst I did lose weight, it was not healthy or sustainable, leading to a cycle of yo-yoing. When the numbers went down, I felt good, but then they'd go back up again. I noticed how much my confidence was linked to my weight, and I became very rigid and controlling over this part of my life.

By reflecting on this repeating pattern, I could see the impact on my mental and physical health (I've experienced episodes of depression and IBS). I knew I needed to make changes that were about more than just my weight. Thankfully, with the support of my partner and family, I was able to navigate a breakthrough moment that led me to recover into a happier and healthier life.

What did that first step look like, and was it easy to take?

I'd reached a point where my confidence and mental health had really declined. I had no motivation for exercise, and I was experiencing IBS symptoms daily due to stress. I was at my heaviest weight, and I struggled to see myself in the mirror without feeling disconnected. At first, I began improving my diet and reducing my alcohol consumption, which eased my IBS but had little impact on my weight.

The biggest step forward came from starting GLP-1 medication (which I took under medical supervision). I feel privileged to have gained a lot of knowledge on the benefits and risks from working with Laura to launch Field Doctor's range of GLP-1 support meals. In particular, the importance of a nutrient-dense, high-protein diet when appetite is reduced. Whilst the decision felt straightforward in the sense that I needed to make a change, it was hard to accept that to be healthy and sustainable, my weight-loss journey would be a long-term process.

The impact of GLP-1 medication on my life surprised me. The constant noise in my head around food quietened, and I was now able to eat mindfully, without guilt and without the impulse to go back for seconds. The pull towards late-night takeaways and weekends spent in the pub eased. It became easier to look after myself; I enjoyed prioritising good, healthy food and looking forward to exercising at weekends for fun.

Have there been any particular challenges that have made looking after your health more difficult?

I have ADHD. I was diagnosed relatively recently, in my late 20s, and so I am still coming to terms with how this has impacted me and my health throughout my life.

Having gained some respite from the food noise and impulsivity after starting GLP-1, it dawned on me how long I had been struggling with this, and how dysfunctional my lifestyle had become as a result. The shift I felt in my impulsivity around food led me to draw parallels with other struggles in my life. Possible ADHD had been suggested to me in the past, but this made it all click.

Through the assessment process (I was referred by my GP) and the research I was doing alongside, I developed an understanding that my cycles of bingeing and restricting were impulsive behaviours linked to ADHD. The struggles with motivation and the bouts of complete obsession are also hallmark traits. Although I felt some grief for all the years I'd struggled without support, I began to come to terms with this part of me.

My diagnosis really changed my approach to health. I gained knowledge and self-compassion by learning that lots of people with ADHD face similar challenges. I felt less embarrassed, which meant I could be more honest and open. I also moved away from "weight loss" as my primary goal and instead focused on my happiness and feeling healthy.

What's changed day to day since you started prioritising your health?

I've experienced a really positive shift in my wellbeing. I have more energy, which means I can exercise, be social and enjoy my hobbies more regularly. Having a set of tools to manage things has really helped, and I'm now able to set a healthy boundary between my wellbeing and life's challenges.

Knowing about the importance of a healthy diet is one thing, but working out how best this works for you is another. I stick to eating three meals a day — skipping meals doesn't work for me and exacerbates my symptoms — prioritising a varied diet rich in micronutrients, fibre and protein.

As a result of being more open and honest about my journey, I've had positive conversations with friends, colleagues and family. On some occasions, this has been met with the other person sharing their own challenges, which has only strengthened our relationship.

Has working at Field Doctor shifted how you think about your health?

For me, working at Field Doctor has been transformational. It's a joy to work with people so focused on improving people's health.

Field Doctor combines the three areas I'm most interested in: food, health and technology. I was part of the founding team, and helping us grow from our first delivery to now delivering over 1.5 million meals has been exciting — I'm looking forward to what's next. The biggest thing that has shifted for me is understanding the impact nutrition can have on people's wellbeing. I read all our reviews, and seeing so many people share how our meals have helped them on their journey is hugely motivating. It's been great to talk to so many of these customers over the years and find ways to improve their experience.

I've also learned just how many dietary needs go unsupported by our food system. When adjusting my food habits, I found there were very few options out there that were genuinely healthy and actually tasted good (other than our meals, of course!)

Favourite resources and tools for learning about health?

There's a lot of health misinformation online, so finding reliable, trusted sources is valuable. I'm lucky to pick up so much knowledge from my role, most of which is on our Health Hub.

I often come back to the Stompcast by Dr Alex George — he has many down-to-earth guests discussing interesting topics and shining a light on mental health. For healthy recipes, I often go to The Doctor's Kitchen — my favourite is the Almond Chicken Curry.

One thing that's made the biggest difference that you'd recommend to others?

Find movement that you love. I've tried many times to stick with things I don't enjoy and only given up. I'm not a gym person, and 15 minutes on the treadmill feels like an hour to me!

I need exercise in environments I find stimulating. I love running outdoors, where I never take the same route twice (meaning I also get to explore more of my neighbourhood). I've recently discovered bouldering, which is the perfect mix of strength, endurance, flexibility and socialising. Since starting regular sessions, I've really noticed the difference, and I enjoy challenging myself on new climbing puzzles every week. There's just enough novelty to keep me motivated. I prefer to work with my cognitive style these days, rather than against it.

I also can't recommend sauna and cold plunge enough. For me, it's guaranteed relaxation, and the muscle-recovery benefits are a bonus. Again, it has a social element which I enjoy too, although sometimes I prefer to be silent and take in a moment of calm.