Success stories of the latest diet fad, the “keto diet” have spread like wildfire, attracting both celebrities and ordinary people with the goal of losing unwanted body weight and obtaining numerous other health benefits. This popular diet plan involves ditching carbs and replacing them with fat, which ultimately puts your body into a state of ketosis. During this state, your body does a great job of burning fat and turning it into energy.
Personal trainer, Jillian Michaels, most known for her role on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, voiced an opposing view on the keto diet in a Women’s Health video, regarding its negative health risks. Michaels referred to the diet as a “bad plan,” saying, “I don’t understand. Like, why would anybody think this is a good idea?” She went on to explain how it deprives the body’s cells of important nutrients.
Her statement did not come without backlash as both TV personality Andy Cohen and Today Show host Al Roker attacked Michaels. On his January ninth episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, he commented, “Tonight’s ‘Jackhole of the Day’ goes to Jillian Michaels, who slammed the keto diet as an awful idea. Don’t feel bad, keto diet. A lot of people think Jillian Michaels is a bad idea.”
The next day, Al Roker took to Twitter to post “So @JillianMichaels says #Keto is a bad idea. This from a woman who promoted on camera bullying, deprivation, manipulation and more weekly in the name of weight loss. Now those sound like bad ideas.”
Quick to fight back, Michaels Tweeted a video response to Roker the day after his not-so-nice comment. She stated, “First of all, I respect you very much – I think you know that – and I have nothing but great experiences with you on The Today Show. And you’ve been lovely and gracious, so thank you for that. And if you want to debate keto, by all means, let’s do that. But the personal attacks are bizarre. It’s unnecessary and uncalled for; it’s beneath both of us. Right?”
She ended the video by referring to her book, The Six Keys: Unlock Your Genetic Potential for Ageless Strength, Health, and Beauty, released in late Oct. 2018:
“With that said, read my book, The Six Keys. I’ve extensively researched everything in that. Nutrition is about way more than weight loss. Read the chapter on macro-molecules. Read the chapter on telomeres. Read the studies I cited in those chapters. And then let’s debate it. I’ll happily send you the book. I’m here to discuss it whenever you like.”
As for Cohen, Michaels called him out for making hypocritical statements about his views on the keto diet, and continued on to call him a “guy who just likes to attack women.”
Michaels finalized her statements by making it clear that although she disagrees with the “personal attacks” thrown around, she is up for a civilized debate about keto. However, Roker and Cohen have neglected to respond.