Kayla Itsines, once a popular fitness guru known for her Bikini Body Guide, is facing a fresh wave of criticism over the impact of her program.
Many people have come forward to say that the 1200-calorie guide led to disordered eating, with some linking it to unhealthy body image issues.
The backlash intensified after Itsines went viral for a now-deleted rant about women who post workout content from a “particular angle” under the guise of a “glute workout.”
In her video, viewed over 1.5 million times, the mother of two expressed concern about the type of content she didn’t want her children to see, explaining, “I’m trying to be an example to women. No drinking, no drugs, no smoking, no highly sexualised content.”
She added, “I probably wouldn’t care if I didn’t have kids, I’ll be like, ‘you do you, boo’.”
The video sparked significant backlash, with many accusing Itsines of hypocrisy, especially considering her Bikini Body Guide, which promoted a highly restrictive diet aimed at women.
The guide, which included a comparison chart on how much exercise was needed to burn off “naughty” snacks, was criticised for fostering unhealthy habits.
Government nutrition calculators estimated the guide’s calorie intake was about half of the recommended daily intake for active young women aged 16-20.
In 2022, several young South Australians spoke out about the dangerous cycle of dieting and bingeing they experienced due to the guide.
In response, Sweat, the parent company of the Bikini Body Guide, acknowledged the feedback, stating that they “promoted the benefits of fitness and leading a healthy, balanced lifestyle.”
Source: The Daily Telegraph.
