But it was in 2022,after telling Nine’sToday show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon that he suffers from post-traumatic stress following a stint in Darfur with Doctors Without Borders,that Coatsworth realised his media potential.
Dr Nick Coatsworth and Tracy Grimshaw’s new medical show examines ways to promote longevity.Supplied
“Every media outlet gave a lot of respect to all of the chief health officers,but I got a lot of time on theToday show,” Coatsworth says. “So when the pandemic died down,I said I thought we had a really positive interaction,and that’s when it all started.”
His pitch to Nine for a longevity science series was a success. He now provides medical expertise exclusively for the network and is the co-host,along with Tracy Grimshaw,ofDo You Want to Live Forever?”The novelty here is taking ordinary Aussies – some of whom are very well known – and seeing if we can make an impact in 12 weeks,” Coatsworth explains.
In a 12-week program designed to reduce the risk factors for premature death,Olympic swimmer and heart attack survivor Duncan Armstrong,55,and his son Tom,32,are joined byThe Blocksisters Eliza,38,and Liberty Paschke,35,a NSW couple in their 50s who smoke and have excessive alcohol consumption,and a Victorian couple in their 20s with an over-reliance on energy drinks.
Under medical supervision,they undergo traditional and alternative treatments,adopt exercise plans,follow diets,take up stress-reducing activities,and explore health interventions,all designed to address the “four pillars of longevity”:exercise,diet,sleep and stress.
In the series,Duncan Armstrong,who underwent triple bypass surgery three years ago,says:“This box of family history,you can’t negotiate with … Because of my early success as an elite athlete,I thought I was invincible. Tommy might find a time bomb out of this testing.”
Former Olympian Duncan Armstrong (right) and his son Tom (left) took part in the show’s 12-week program designed to reduce the risk factors for premature death.Supplied
Coatsworth and Grimshaw track the participants’ progress,and present separate investigative segments. The infectious diseases doctor visits,or geographical area with a healthy,long-living population,while the formerA Current Affairanchor travels to the US and Mexico to interview wealthy “bio-hackers”,who go to extremes to optimise their cellular nutrition.
“There are two main concepts I took out of Okinawa,” says Coatsworth. “One was ‘moai’,and that’s about how relationships sustain you in your later years;and ‘ikigai’ is about having a sense of purpose. I met some very active,old Japanese people,and they had both of those.”
He believes Australians would do well to adopt both philosophies,particularly the latter.
“In Australia,we want to stop working at 55 to 60,get in a caravan and go around the country. And that’s cool,but there’s a limit to how much purpose you can derive from that,” he says.
“Whereas in Japan,people are still working well into their 70s. You see older Japanese people doing road work repairs,and as sushi chefs,and working down at the local convenience store,whereas we hardly ever see that in Australia. But it’s not just about the individual having that purpose. It’s also about the community recognising that the older Australian can make a contribution.”
Likening genetics to a game of poker,Coatsworth says,“Genes are the cards that you’re dealt,and life is how you play them. So you can get dealt a good set of cards,but you can check out pretty quickly if you play the cards wrong. You can be dealt a bad set of genes,but you could easily live to 90 or 100 if you do the right thing.”
Dementia and high blood pressure run in his family. “My dad got dementia when he was really young. So I need to know the things that aren’t doing me any favours. So binge-drinking is out. I probably did my fair share when I was younger. And if I don’t also attend to my blood pressure,I’m going to be in trouble.”
Coatsworth hopes the series will inspire viewers to make lifestyle changes. “Literally everything we do every day is a bio-hack. You can shift the dial. It’s entirely possible,and it’s never too late.”
Do You Want To Live Forever? premieres on Monday,June 17,at 7.30pm on Nine,which is the owner of this masthead.
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