Christian Jessen
Encyclopedia
Christian Spencer Jessen (born 4 March 1977) is an English
doctor and television presenter.
's Supersize vs Superskinny
and Embarrassing Bodies alongside Pixie McKenna
and Dawn Harper. As well as presenting medical programmes on television, he contributes regularly to newspapers and magazines such as The Evening Standard, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, FHM
, Gay Times
, Closer and Arena
. Following his series Supersize vs Superskinny
, Jessen wrote the accompanying book Supersize vs Superskinny: Take Control of Your Weight.
, receiving his MB,BS
degrees in 2000. He holds an MSc
degree in sexual health, and has a particular interest in HIV
and malaria
, which were the focus of his work for two years in Kenya
and Uganda
.
Alongside his television career, Jessen is a GP
in two clinics in London
and works privately in the UK oil and gas industry - as well as for the Australian, New Zealand
and Canadian
immigration services. Jessen also provides occupational health for London Underground
and Virgin Trains
.
gay
and in a long-term relationship.
He plays the oboe
, and has an interest in antique bronzes; in 2010, he won a celebrity edition of the quiz show Antiques Master with this as his specialist subject.
He has also mentioned that he struggles with body dysmorphia issues.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
doctor and television presenter.
Television career
He is best known for presenting Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Supersize vs Superskinny
Supersize vs Superskinny
Supersize vs Superskinny is a British television programme on Channel 4 that features information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. One of the main show features is a weekly comparison between an overweight person, and an underweight person...
and Embarrassing Bodies alongside Pixie McKenna
Pixie McKenna
Bernadette Anne McKenna, known as Pixie McKenna is an Irish doctor and television presenter. She is best known for her work on the Channel 4 series Embarrassing Illnesses and its sister series Embarrassing Bodies and BBC Three's Freaky Eaters.-Education and training :McKenna attended medical...
and Dawn Harper. As well as presenting medical programmes on television, he contributes regularly to newspapers and magazines such as The Evening Standard, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
, Gay Times
Gay Times
Gay Times is one of the United Kingdom's leading gay magazine for gay and bisexual men.-Publication and content:...
, Closer and Arena
Arena (magazine)
Arena was a British monthly men's magazine. The magazine was created in 1986 by Nick Logan, who had started The Face in 1980, to focus on trends in fashion and entertainment. British graphic designer Neville Brody, who had designed The Face, designed Arena's launch appearance.The magazine featured...
. Following his series Supersize vs Superskinny
Supersize vs Superskinny
Supersize vs Superskinny is a British television programme on Channel 4 that features information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. One of the main show features is a weekly comparison between an overweight person, and an underweight person...
, Jessen wrote the accompanying book Supersize vs Superskinny: Take Control of Your Weight.
Medical career
Jessen studied medicine as an undergraduate at University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, receiving his MB,BS
MBBS
MBBS was a popular BBS system in the Nordic countries during the mid-1990s. It was created by a team of Oslo-based enthusiasts, led by Mike Robertson. As many BBS systems of that era, it was only available for the DOS platform. Since one process could only handle one node, multitaskers such as...
degrees in 2000. He holds an MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
degree in sexual health, and has a particular interest in HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, which were the focus of his work for two years in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
Alongside his television career, Jessen is a GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in two clinics in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and works privately in the UK oil and gas industry - as well as for the Australian, New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand or INZ is a part of the Workforce group of the New Zealand Department of Labour. It is responsible for managing the benefits and consequences of immigration to New Zealand.-Visa:...
and Canadian
Immigration to Canada
Immigration to Canada is the process by which people migrate to Canada to reside permanently in the country. The majority of these individuals become Canadian citizens. After 1947, domestic immigration law and policy went through major changes, most notably with the Immigration Act, 1976, and the...
immigration services. Jessen also provides occupational health for London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
and Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
.
Personal life
Jessen is openlyComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and in a long-term relationship.
He plays the oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, and has an interest in antique bronzes; in 2010, he won a celebrity edition of the quiz show Antiques Master with this as his specialist subject.
He has also mentioned that he struggles with body dysmorphia issues.
Television appearances
- Embarrassing Illnesses
- Embarrassing Bodies
- Embarrassing Teenage Bodies
- Embarrassing Old Bodies
- Embarrassing Bodies Kids
- Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic
- Embarrassing Fat Bodies
- Embarrassing Bodies
- Doctor, DoctorDoctor, Doctor (Five TV)Doctor, Doctor is a live talk show broadcast on British television on Five hosted by the presenters Mark Porter and Raj Persaud...
- Finding God
- Harley Street
- Sex in Court
- Skinny Celebrities
- Supersize vs SuperskinnySupersize vs SuperskinnySupersize vs Superskinny is a British television programme on Channel 4 that features information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. One of the main show features is a weekly comparison between an overweight person, and an underweight person...
- Supersize vs Superskinny Kids
- 8 Out of 10 Cats8 Out of 10 Cats8 out of 10 Cats is a television comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for Channel 4. It was first broadcast on 3 June 2005. The show is based on statistics and opinion polls, and draws on polls produced by a variety of organizations and new polls commissioned for the programme, carried out by...
- One Born at Christmas
- Loose WomenLoose WomenLoose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
- The Ugly Face of Beauty