Dr Linia Patel knows a thing or two about what we eat. The Zambia-born, Milan-based dietitian, performance nutritionist and public health researcher has spent more than 20 years working across women’s health, sport and nutrition. Her latest book, Life After Weight-Loss Medication (Jonathan Ball), tackles what happens when the Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro stops.
But what does she reach for herself? We asked her about desert-island songs, comfort food, celebrity crushes and the one decidedly unglamorous thing she never leaves home without.
What’s the best book you’ve read in the last year and why?
That is a tough question because I’m an avid reader. But the book that stayed with me long after I finished it was Still Running After All These Tears by Lisa Jackson. Jackson is a fellow Southern African (she’s South African, and I’m Zambia-born and -bred). It’s a deeply personal account of navigating unimaginable grief following the loss of her mother, sister, father and then husband, and how running helped her put one foot in front of the other. It’s heartfelt, raw, witty and utterly captivating. A beautiful reminder of both the fragility of life and the extraordinary resilience we all carry within us.
How do you keep fit?
There’s no single way. It’s a real mixed bag, depending on my schedule. Movement simply makes me feel alive. Some days it’s 10 minutes of mobility squeezed into a hotel room, a morning walk or, my favourite, a run. Other days it’s 15 minutes of yoga, 20 minutes on the Wattbike before clinic, or a strength session at the gym to keep these 40-plus-year-old muscles happy! For me, it’s about consistency rather than perfection.
Weeknight low-key restaurant go-to?
I live in Milan, so this has to be Fish Garden. It’s unfussy and reliably good, and somehow always seems to have a table available. I go for the fresh fish, the best garlicky spinach, delicious rosemary potatoes and a crisp glass of Vermentino to wash it all down. Simple pleasures at their best.
What is the one artwork you’ll always love and why?
It’s an oil painting of Zambian msasa (often called “kalepula”) trees in spring. I don’t know the artist — it was bought from a street stall years ago — but I treasure it. Every time I look at it, I’m transported back to those long drives home through Zambia, where the landscape bursts into colour. It’s a little piece of home on my wall and a reminder that Africa is full of incredibly talented artists and creatives whose work deserves to be seen by the world.
Do you have a hobby?
Cooking … and, of course, eating! There’s a huge overlap between my work and my hobby. I love flicking through cookbooks for inspiration, wandering around food markets choosing ingredients, then heading home to cook up a storm, usually with a good podcast playing in the background.
The one unusual item you can’t live without?
Tough question. Blue Palmolive Vaseline for my lips. It might not be glamorous, but I’ve never found anything that works better. I’ve tried countless lip balms over the years, and I always come back to the trusty blue tub. It’s permanently in my handbag.
Who was your high school celeb crush?
Ha! Too many to count! My dormitory walls were definitely covered with posters of South African rugby players. Will Smith was a constant too. The more interesting question is who my celebrity crush is now. Trevor Noah, hands down. A brilliant mind paired with a wicked sense of humour? That’s a winning combination every time.
So, Trevor … if you’re reading this, come find me!
Three songs you’d take to a desert island?
Praise by Elevation Worship, Jerusalema by Master KG, and The Best by Tina Turner.