Season 2
Body Hits is an episodic documentary show made by the BBC that focuses on what goes on inside people's bodies as they fight their way through their hectic modern lifestyles.
It is presented by Dr John Marsden, a chartered psychologist and Senior Lecturer in Addictive Behaviour at London's Institute of Psychiatry and a senior member of the UK National Addiction Centre.
Season 2
Day-to-day living is a potential minefield and it's not just high flyers who feel the strain. Too much stress, not enough sleep and trying to plan a family - many people feel deluged by conflicting advice on all these matters.
The second season of Body Hits - the show where psychology meets biology - gets to the bottom of these issues and more.
In the first episode, we uncover the science behind falling in love. Why is it that we're attracted to some people but not to others, and what are we really looking for in an ideal partner?
The second episode follows three couples in their quest to have a baby. How does the way they live influence their chances of conceiving?
Later in the season we look at the science behind sleep deprivation and stress and offer some top tips for getting a good night's kip. We also look at what really goes on in your body when the temperature drops.
Season 2 Episode Summaries
Love Story
What goes on inside your brain and body when you experience the incredible highs and lows of love?
In this episode of Body Hits, Dr Marsden uncovers the science behind the quest for love. Why is it that we're attracted to some people but not to others, and what are we really looking for in an ideal partner?
John follows Kashmira, a hopeful single speed-dater, and reveals the truth about the biology of attraction.
Is it true that love is a drug? Love Story investigates, meeting addicts high on love, as well as Joseph, who suffers horribly from its withdrawal.
With the help of 3D computer-animated graphics, travel inside the brain and body to find out just how similar the experience of love is to taking cocaine or speed.
Delve into the murky waters of love and sex. While our attitudes to sex might sometimes keep it firmly separate from love, discover how your body's got a few tricks up its sleeve to tip you head over heels into love. Whether you like it or not, sex is booby-trapped to bond you to your partner - with love.
Love Story also features a rather unusual wedding. Settling down has still driven Bronya and Dave to do something quite out of the ordinary. And find out just how important the craziness of love is - bizarrely enough, the survival of the human species depends on it.
By following the intriguing stories of people at very different stages on the love trail, Love Story takes you on a journey to reveal what science can teach us about this most complex of human emotions.
Baby Quest
Dr Marsden follows three couples in their quest to have a baby.
Alex and Pauline are fast-food lovers, frequent party-goers, enjoy their booze and the occasional fag. How does the way they live influence their chances of conceiving a baby? Discover how the things you do to your body affect your fertility and see how Alex and Pauline cope with a thorough lifestyle makeover.
Helena and Rupert have two girls and now Helena would love to have another child. Rupert agrees - under one condition: it has to be a boy. Resourceful as she is, Helena browses the Internet and finds lots of information on how to boost the chances of conceiving a baby boy.
From diet to sexual positions, she did it all. But how scientific are these methods? Can you really influence the sex of your baby? And does Helena strike it lucky?
For Nigel and Amanda the sex of their child isn't an issue. They're just desperate to have one. They've been trying for five years, but no joy. Now they're opting for in vitro fertilisation. Find out how the ins and outs of the treatment and whether or not IVF will work for them.
In Baby Quest, John also travels across the UK to explore some myths surrounding pregnancy. What's the secret behind Till 15 in a supermarket in Widnes, Cheshire? Why are more babies born in the summer? And do fighter pilots really have more baby girls?
Against The Clock
It's a vicious circle. If you can't sleep, you get stressed - and if you're stressed, you can't sleep. In this episode Dr Marsden unveils the science behind sleep deprivation and stress and offers some top tips for getting a good night's kip.
What happens if you don't get enough sleep? How long has anyone survived without it? Witness how John struggles to stay awake for as long as he can and discover what happens to his brain and body as he undergoes a series of challenging tests.
How will sleep deprivation affect his ability to make a split second decision on a driving simulator and at a shooting range - and know he's got it right?
Imagine the torture of being constantly awoken throughout the night for weeks on end. Against The Clock asks Claire and Ade how they cope with looking after their baby twins and investigates the effects their new role as parents has on them - from memory loss to talking nonsense.
Also featured is David, a stressed entrepreneur whose brain seldom sleeps. Spy on his bedroom habits as he endeavours to get some sleep and explore the biology of his body's 'fight or flight' stress response.
With no sabre-toothed tigers to run away from, what does his body do with all the stress hormones his fast-paced lifestyle creates?
Cold Snap
It's cold, it's wet, the nights draw in earlier and invariably you spend a week in bed (on your own) with a runny nose, sneezing and coughing until your chest hurts. But it's not all doom and gloom in winter.
In this episode Dr Marsden looks at what really goes on in your body when the temperature drops. To prove his point, he spends 45 minutes in a freezing cold water tank. He also hooks up with Adam and Tim, two cool guys who spend half the year Stateside snowboarding for a living.
Find out what happens to your body as you spend more time indoors in the winter months. And meet Sam, who works in one of the most dangerous places on Earth to catch the cold virus.
John will also have some fun playing cocktail waiter while throwing a Christmas party for some funky ad people to find out how just two units of booze means they get the munchies.