Louise Redknapp on This Morning
Louise Redknapp, who took part in the shocking documentary ‘The Truth About Size Zero’, screened on 7th March 2007 at 9pm on ITV1, was interviewed on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ show with Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton.
Louise explained the reason she agreed to slim down to 6 st 13 lb, from her natural 7 st 10 lb, in just 30 days, was to highlight the dangers of crash dieting while trying to pursue the infamous ‘size zero’ dress size (UK size 4).
Even though a medical doctor closely monitored her, she described the experience as being an ‘emotional rollercoaster’, and it was the first time she had cried on television.
Louise ate just 700 calories per day, including oats and tiny omelettes, while doing strenuous boot camp style work outs with a trainer who trains the likes of Katie Holmes and Teri Hatcher. She also ran three miles a day.
Louise suffered many negative effects as a result, including bad skin, shrinking breasts, fluctuating moods, tiredness, white and red blood count reduction and a temporarily compromised immune system.
The people who know her say her personality changed throughout the experiment, and her husband Jamie Redknapp, who initially dated her because she ‘looked like a woman and has boobs and a bum’ couldn’t wait for her to start eating normally again.
Despite the negative consequences, Louise admitted she liked her new size zero frame, but felt terrible enjoying being smaller. She was frightened she may become addicted to being that size, the health effects of which would be very dangerous.
Louise is now back up to a healthy weight, and suffered no long-term damage, such as infertility and osteoporosis, because she did not stick to the regime for long enough.
She concludes the whole experience was extremely tough, she will never ever diet again, and hopes the documentary will do some good by highlighting the dangers of crash dieting.
Being skinny and a size zero does not equal success. While some women are naturally this thin, most are not and if they are desperate enough to try to reach it, it will almost certainly spell misery and ill health.
The average woman needs 2,000 calories per day.
The 90 minute long ‘The Truth About Size Zero’ documentary will be shown on ITV1 tonight at 9pm.
