Good Morning Britain viewers were up in arms while watching Wednesday’s episode when a weight loss motivator suggested obese people should get turned away from junk food restaurants.
Joining presenters Susanna Reid and Adil Ray, Steve Miller appeared on the show, debating with diversity advocate Dr Ateh Jewel about the obesity crisis.
Steve argued obese people should be refused service at certain restaurants – leading Susanna to point out such behaviour could be interpreted as “fat-shaming”.
“Whenever we talk about a subject like this we always raise those two words – fat shaming. We need to turn this around and call it lifesaving,” he said.
The weight-loss motivator went on reel off statistics on obesity, before continuing: “What I’m thinking is that for those people that are a BMI of forty plus, we’re talking really quite big there, is to make sure we look after those people absolutely, to save their life potentially, is that we absolutely look after them and refuse to serve junk food to those people.
(Image: ITV)
“And I’ll make no apology for that.”
Susanna was quick to pick apart his argument, pointing out a person could easily return home after the cruel rejection and order takeaway fast food.
“When you say you shouldn’t use the words fat-shaming that is literally what you’re suggesting happens to people because they can eat unhealthily at home,” she argued.
Steve was quick to deny he was fat-shaming, as he replied: “No I’m not! No, I’m not. You see every time we talk about conquering obesity you talk about fat shaming. We’ve really got to get a grip on this.”
(Image: ITV)
Meanwhile, watching from home, viewers were outraged to hear Steve’s argument, with many branding it cruel and ineffective.
One Twitter user wrote: “Absolutely crazy! If you’re an emotional eater and get turned away for your weight in what will clearly be an embarrassing situation, you’re going to turn to food as soon as you get home.”
“This guy is a danger to society. #eatingdisorders are seeing huge increases and it is proven that shaming people doesn’t help their health, in fact, the opposite. Dieting causes more eating disorders than those it ‘helps’. Please stop this b****** shaming & diet talk,” added a second.
(Image: ITV)
And a third penned: “Appalling discussion about overweight people being denied ordering in restaurants! I gained 4 stone on Chemotherapy and hormone treatments and had nothing to do with eating, in fact my appetite lessened during that time! Don’t presume everyone is an overeater!”
Ateh countered Steve’s argument, suggesting compassion and mindfulness was the right way to go, as she reflected on her own weight loss.
“I think it would laughable if it wasn’t so dangerous. It feels like a Black Mirror episode,” she said, comparing Steve’s theory to the dystopian Netflix series.
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“I had an amazing doctor who said ‘no one has a food problem, they had a feeling problem’.
“And the only way to tackle this is with love, connection, positivity and encouraging positive coping mechanisms,” Ateh argued, taking a caring and compassionate approach to the problem.
Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays at 6am on ITV.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
