Steve ‘Commando’ Willis has defended the methods he used on The Biggest Loser Australia, saying the reality show was ‘above board’.

The series’ US counterpart was the subject of a recent Netflix documentary, Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser, which features previous contestants revealing some of the dangerous habits they practised in a bid to lose the most weight, and scoop the $250,000 prize.

In the series, one former US contestant, Tracey Yukich, details how she was hospitalised with a life-threatening condition after one of the challenges.

Speaking to 10News+, Willis, known for his ruthless approach on the series, said that such an incident was unlikely to occur on the Australian version.

‘I don’t feel it was ever a risk,’ he said.

‘From the time that I spent with the contestants and the challenges that we did and all those things, we always had medical staff on standby.’

Steve ‘Commando’ Willis has defended the methods he used on The Biggest Loser Australia, saying the reality show was ‘above board’

Another claim made in the documentary was that trainers Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper were restricting contestants’ calorie intake to 800 calories per day – despite medical advice.

Willis said this was a practice also employed on The Biggest Loser Australia, albeit within strict health guidelines. 

‘They were always given warnings around restricting things for themselves,’ he said.

‘Yes, we restricted their calorie intake as such that was suitable to weight loss, but not detrimental to their health.’

Willis added that, while weight loss was the ultimate goal on the show, he was more interested in giving contestants the tools to ensure their transformations would last.

‘I think the way in which it was done here in Australia was above board,’ he said.

‘It was very much around, yes, the weight loss. But each of the trainers on the show prescribed their own nutritional plan.

‘We went about training our contestants in the methods that we felt best suited [them] and we would also give the contestants extra training that they needed to do when we weren’t there.’ 

With one former US contestant detailing a life-threatening incident in a recent Netflix documentary, Willis, known for his ruthless approach on the series, said that such an incident was unlikely to occur on the Australian version. Willis is pictured with contestant Cliff Bloomfield

However, if the show were to make a sensational return to TV screens, Commando said he’d take a different approach in exploring the mental toll of obesity and weight loss.

‘I think there is an opportunity for something of that nature that’s inspirational, motivational, because obesity hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s only gotten worse,’ he continued.

‘We also know, though, from when we first did The Biggest Loser to today, (about) the difference with mental health. The issues and the struggles, and they’re more real.

‘I think we used to pay it off a lot more in the past, and for myself, even coming from the military, understanding that and things like PTSD and the like. And trauma from an early childhood, and how that can affect people coming into their adult lives or later on in life.

‘Our approach would have to be a little bit different.’

It comes in the wake of several former Biggest Loser Australia stars speaking out about their time on the show.

Former host Ajay Rochester revealed some shocking behind-the-scenes secrets on the Kyle & Jackie O show last week.

‘It was always just like, when is someone going to die?’ Ajay said.

‘I don’t feel it was ever a risk,’ he told TV Tonight. ‘From the time that I spent with the contestants and the challenges that we did and all those things, we always had medical staff on standby.’ 

‘I think the way in which it was done here in Australia was above board,’ he said. ‘It was very much around, yes the weight loss. But each of the trainers on the show prescribed their own nutritional plan’

The TV veteran claimed several contestants underwent procedures to correct major health issues caused by the show.

‘There were a bunch of secret surgeries that went on,’ she told listeners.

‘People were rushed off… days before the finale [and] had surgery because it’s one of those things that through extreme weight loss can actually be affected.’

While Ajay does not believe producers intentionally put contestants’ ‘lives at risk’, she described filming as the ‘Wild West’ with no rules and the cast was ‘pushed and pushed’. 

After US hosts Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper took on training duties for the Down Under version in 2008, Willis joined the cast in 2009 alongside Michelle Bridges and Shannan Ponton. 

Willis left the series in 2015, and The Biggest Loser Australia disappeared from screens in 2017 due to falling ratings after running for 11 seasons.

The show debuted on Channel 10 in 2006 and was initially a ratings success, as viewers tuned in to watch contestants strive to lose weight for the chance to win a massive cash prize.