THIS Morning has been hit with almost 2,000 Ofcom complaints after Dr Michael Mosley encouraged viewers to eat just 800 calories a day to lose “lockdown weight”.
Fans were left outraged by the “dangerous” segment last week, which aired on Friday’s episode with hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.
The professional insisted that consuming 800 to 1,000 calories a day can be “safe and effective” on the programme – adding that he is a “fan of rapid weight loss”.
This is less than half of the recommended calorie intake, which is 2,500 for men and 2,000 for women.
The segment faced fierce backlash online at the time, particularly as it aired during Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and 1,932 people have reported their concerns to TV watchdog Ofcom.
This Morning will now be assessed on whether or not the regulator needs to conduct a full investigation into the complaints.
Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote on Friday [26 February]: “There is no way This Morning are promoting eating 800-1000 calories a day on Eating Disorder Awareness week. So irresponsible.”
Another agreed: “Angry to see this section of the show encouraging adults to eat no more than 800 calories calories a day to ‘lose lockdown pounds’, quickly.
“Normalising calorie restriction such as this, can be the start of life risking eating disorders for many.”
A third said: “Absolutely abhorrent that they’ve given this man a platform to advise people to stick to 800-1000 calories a day if they want to lose weight.
“This is so so dangerous and really f**king irresponsible.”
One more echoed: “Beyond appalled that #ThisMorning are conveying a message that eating 800 calories a day is ok, a toddler needs more than that! An extremely damaging message.”
This is not the first time that Dr Mosley has faced scrutiny on This Morning, being slammed last year for promoting the same low-calorie diet.
At the time, then-hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were visibly stunned, with Eamonn questioning: “How can you possibly be happy on 800 calories per day?”
Mosley argued: “It’s pretty tough to begin with but, what most people report, within about three or four days their stomachs shrink and they go into fat burning mode.”
His Channel 4 show How To Lose A Stone In 21 Days also sparked shockwaves in 2020, with horrified viewers claiming that it “promoted eating disorders”.
Mosley, who qualified as a doctor but works as a journalist and documentary-maker, has claimed that he reversed his Type 2 diabetes by sticking to a 5:2 diet that sees him dramatically reduce his calorie intake for two days a week.
