3AW’s Tom Elliott under fire for ‘offensive and ignorant’ comments on female weight loss

Shock jock Tom Elliott has hit back at critics after he was slammed for his “fat shaming” comments about menopausal women.

Tom Elliott has been slammed over ‘offensive’ weight loss comments. Picture: Jay Town

Shock jock Tom Elliott says he isn’t an internalised fatphobic, but does exercise every single day in the gym to battle the bulge.

The 3AW mornings host came under fire on Thursday for what many thought was a condescending and fat-bashing stance against those who take weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic to control their weight. Many contacted the Herald Sun to say they were outraged by his behaviour toward a 43-year-old female caller, who said the medication had been a life saver in helping manage her health during menopause.

They felt Elliott’s tone was belittling and rude, but he later told Page 13 he was actually in favour of weight-loss drugs being considered for public funding and that he wasn’t a fat-shamer.

He then went so far as to say he was in staunch agreement with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, after having one of their leading doctors, Chair of Obesity Management Dr Terri-Lynne South on the program with him on Thursday.

Tom Elliott at 3AW. Picture: Jay Town

Let’s just say Dr Terri-Lynne South and the RACGP took a somewhat different take to Elliott’s interviewing skills and stance, contacting Page 13 on Friday.

RACGP women’s health spokesperson, GP, and menopause expert Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis said Elliott was “insulting toward women.”

“I’m appalled, though not surprised. His comments on the radio were ignorant, condescending, and insulting to women. Trying to validate his claims by comparing his exercise routine with that of a caller, regardless of their sex and age shows a profound lack of insight and sensitivity,” Prof Simonis said.

“Menopause is a natural phase in life, but poses a challenge to the metabolism of many women who maintain good habits – in other words, it’s not just about ‘habits’.”

Elliott did say he was used to copping criticism.

Tom and Elise Elliott. Picture: Supplied

“I get called ignorant and stupid all the time. No, I haven’t got internalised fatphobia,” he said.

“If you look around in Australia, 40 years ago, very few people were overweight. Now the majority of people are. So that’s a fact.

“I get up at 5 and I’m at work at 6. And then after work, whether you want to or not, you’ll hit it out at the gym? Absolutely.

“So it’s a mixture of boxing, weights, running, swimming every single day. The only time I’ve missed a day is if I was travelling overseas and was on a plane. And then what about your diet as well? My diet’s pretty good.

“I’m just cooking dinner now, and so it’s lean chicken breast and zucchini and sweet potato, and that’s it.”

Originally published as 3AW’s Tom Elliott under fire for ‘offensive and ignorant’ comments on female weight loss