Former trainer on The Biggest Loser hits out at the show’s ‘body shaming’ problem

AN EX-Biggest Loser trainer has hit out at the show’s “body shaming” tactics and says Michelle Bridges’ comments are a disgrace.

A FORMER trainer on The Biggest Loser has criticised the show’s “body shaming” tactics and says Michelle Bridges’ comments this week — that she has “never met a morbidly obese person who is happy” — make people feel “repulsed”.

On Monday night’s episode of Australian Story, Bridges defended the Channel 10 reality show, which has been criticised by health experts over its extreme weight loss tactics and for promoting an unhealthy body image.

The 44-year-old, who is dating fellow TBL trainer Steve “The Commando” Willis, signed on with the reality show in 2007. She gave birth to the couple’s son Axel last year.

Bridges’ comments have ignited debate about the current health and fitness movement in Australia.

Radio hosts Chrissy Swan and Meshel Laurie hit back at her remarks yesterday, with both saying they are “fat and happy”.

Michelle Bridges and Steve Willis have a son together, called Axel. Willis has two other children from a previous relationship.

Now a former trainer on season 4 of The Biggest Loser, Emma Chalmers (also known as the “Emazon”) has criticised the series, calling it one of the “greatest body-shaming platforms”.

The 41-year-old appeared on the 2009 series as a “feature trainer” and was later offered a fulltime position on the show, but refused.

Ms Chalmers told news.com.au she’s glad she “dodged a bullet” and is no longer a part of the show.

“I could see that the show wouldn’t keep on working in its current format. People were already criticising it, but they weren’t willing to change and evolve, to create another message other than weight loss,” she said.

“They had it in their heads that they needed a female version of ‘The Commando’. But my job on that show wasn’t about weight loss or to physically break them. It was more emotional and psychological, helping them connect to the person they could be.

“I tried to pitch that as a permanent fixture. I said, ‘Have one trainer who doesn’t talk to them about their weight, who doesn’t measure their weight.’

“ButI think there was always that pressure to fill [US TBL host] Jillian Michaels’ ‘bully’ role. When you have a franchise formula that works, you need to match the humans to the characters, rather than creating a character from the talent,” she said.

The ‘Emazon’ on Season 4 of TBL.

‘Emazon’ puts the contestants through their paces.

Ms Chalmers is a certified personal trainer.

Ms Chalmers now runs a media agency teaching people in the fitness world how to market their businesses towards women, who are becoming disenfranchised with the growing “fitspo” movement.

She says Michelle Bridges is “so out of touch” with what the average woman wants.

“I was like, ‘Here we go again.’ First Lorna Jane, then Lola Berry, then Ashy Bines, now this. If [Bridges] had made that comment five years ago, no one would really have noticed. But women are more educated now. They’re empowered and they’re over it. How did she not see this coming?

“We’re done with gurus. The women I speak to, they say, ‘If I turn around and see one more freaking 12-week program or bikini body challenge, I’m going to punch someone in the face.’ They’re repulsed and they’re over it,” she said.

“The Chrissy Swans of the world have turned around and said, ‘I’ve chosen happiness.’ I think we get annoyed when these fitness figure heads act like they didn’t get the memo. You’re meant to be in touch with people. Asking them to get ‘beach body ready’ won’t work.”

On Australian Story, Bridges defended The Biggest Loser.

“[The show] has all sorts of critics who say, ‘You’re putting these people up to be insulted or laughed at or made the butt of a joke,’” she said.

“I think it might be seen that I have this agenda on people who are overweight or people who are deemed fat. Honestly if you are happy where you are, genuinely, more power to you.

“But I can tell you now, I am yet to have met someone who is morbidly obese and happy.”

Both Fremantle Media, which produced TBL between 2006 and 2010, and Shine Australia, the company now producing the show, declined to comment to news.com.au, as did Channel 10.