12:00a.m. 19th February 2008

Bob Harper with fellow American Biggest Loser trainer Kim Lyons.

Australians pride themselves on having a laidback attitude, but US trainer Bob Harper says the Aussies he deals with can be a little too relaxed when it comes to losing weight.

Harper stars on the US and Australian versions of The Biggest Loser, helping the television shows’ contestants shed their unwanted kilos.

And he says the Americans run rings around the Australians when it comes to getting motivated.

“One of the biggest differences between the two is the motivation that the Americans have. I think it’s unparalleled,” Harper told AAP.

“You get the Americans on the show and they will be in the gym all day long.

“The Australians need a little more of a push into there. They tend to be a little bit more laidback.”

The Network Ten program, which is now in its third season, is going from strength to strength.

The season debut earlier this month drew an average of 1.28 million viewers, up 118,000 from last year.

Harper said the show continued to be popular because both Australia and the US shared an “obsession” with losing weight.

“People are obsessed with weight loss,” the 42-year-old trainer said.

“I know they are in America and they are down here also.

“People can tune in and just see someone they can relate to – they can see themselves, they can see their mother, their father, their brother or their sister.

“If they can get inspired by watching our show or get motivated in some way, to me that’s what it’s all about.”

Harper has helped many celebrities get into shape, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Guy Ritchie, Catherine Keener, Laura Dern and Jenny McCarthy.

He defends celebrities who lose their baby weight quickly or drop a dress size for a movie, and says it is all about doing it in a healthy way.

“When you’re dealing with celebrities or actors that have just had a baby and they’ve got to get their ‘fighting shape’, then it’s important because their body is their livelihood,” he said.

“But I think a lot of people tend to put so much pressure on themselves to look a certain way and I’m much more interested in people feeling a certain way about themselves.

“It’s so not about getting in shape and getting into a size whatever. It’s about just feeling better about yourself.”

— AAP

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