It was all over Jillian Michaels’s face during the stunning Biggest Loser finale, one that saw contestant Rachel Frederickson lose an incredible 155 lbs. Frederickson’s new 105 lb frame helped the 24-year-old walk away with the Biggest Loser‘s top prize. At the same time her stunning weight loss touched off a firestorm of controversy.
Now Michaels, 40, has commented on Frederickson’s much debated weight loss in a Skype chat with Huffpost Live. As you have probably guessed she did not approve.
Said Michaels, “In my opinion, this had fallen through those checks and balances.” According to the trainer, Frederickson’s extreme weight loss was due to the failure of Biggest Loser to keep in touch with the contestant and monitor her weight loss after she went home to compete.
Michaels also commented that she believes that extreme weight loss and morbid obesity as virtually the same issue.
“It simply means that somebody is utilizing their relationship with food to manage emotions that are painful, hard, difficult to face or control.”
Psyched that I got to interview @JillianMichaels, who said Biggest Loser winner situation is "absurd." http://t.co/ocRk21Ea3y Tennessean
— Brad Schmitt (@bradschmitt) February 26, 2014
Fellow trainer Bob Harper was also on hand to witness Frederickson’s transformation and it appears he’s been reluctant to be as vocal as Michaels about the 5’4 young woman’s extreme weight loss, despite admitting to being stunned at the sight of her.
Despite the concerns of Biggest Loser trainers and much of the internet, Frederickson does not seem to share in any worry regarding whether or not she went too far.
Frederickson was busily enjoying the attention her smaller size had given her. Frederickson said to E! News about her weight loss, “I feel truly alive and just transformed. I couldn’t be more happy, more thankful to get this second chance to take charge of my life again.”
Dolvett Quince, the trainer credited with Frederickson’s extreme weight loss also dismissed the backlash garnered by the stunning result.
He responded to the internet outcry by saying, “Biggest Loser is a journey which has its ups and downs. Please try not to look at one slice of Rachel’s journey and come to broad conclusions.”
Image via Wikimedia Commons
