Adriano 'Adro' Sarnelli from The Biggest
Loser / Pic: Channel Ten. Source: The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph reports
The winner of the inaugural first local The
Biggest Loser, Australia, Adro Sarnelli, has hit out at the show's producers
over plans to open "Australia's first-ever weight loss retreat",
saying that he has been operating a same-minded obesity rehabilitation centre
for the last five years.
Last week it was announced that the Golden Door Health Retreat on the
Gold Coast will undergo a complete overhaul and be re-branded The Biggest
Loser Retreat as part of a partnership with series producer Shine
Australia. It will offer services seen on the weight-loss show and be promoted
as the first of its kind.
However, Sarnelli, who won the TV competition in 2006 after losing 70kg,
used his $200,000 prizemoney as a start-up for his own retreat, The New Me in
Melbourne, which opened in 2008 and offers two 12-week courses for people who
weigh more than 100kg.
"We set this up privately and we've had to work really hard to get
this far,'' Sarnelli said yesterday.
"When you have a big corporate like The Biggest Loser come in and
think they can start at the top is kind of like putting shit on the little
guy.''
Sarnelli said he used the "voids'' of the show to build his
business. "There was lots missing from The Biggest Loser, such as
psychological support, long-term planning, teaching you how to cook and shop -
the things that are prevalent to keeping the weight off,'' he said.
"A production company didn't teach me that and that's what made me
want to teach and help others.
"I just hope this retreat is actually about helping people and not
about making a TV program.''
There was no comment from a spokesman for Golden Door said its services
differed from what Sarnelli was offering all Australians.
The new retreat will open in July.
The new retreat will open in July.
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