Heidi Klum sparks controversy after stepping on the scales on Instagram Live
The supermodel said she doesn't think she's ever had to count calories in her life.
Former Victoria's Secret Angel and supermodel, Heidi Klum, found herself in the midst of controversy as fans raised concerns about the potential message she may be sending to her followers.
Klum, at 50 years old, recently turned to social media for an open discussion on her weight. During a now-expired Q&A session on her Instagram Story, Heidi brought out a scale and stepped onto it, ensuring accuracy by removing her cheetah-print cover-up
The scale's readings fluctuated between 137 pounds (62.1 kg) and 139 pounds (63 kg) until Klum shared on a separate Instagram Story that her weight rests at 138 pounds (62.6 kg). Standing tall at 175 cm, the German-born model's body mass index aligns with the normal range, as indicated by The Heart Foundation Australia's calculator.
it was initially reported by the Daily Mail that Heidi revealed her daily caloric intake doesn't exceed 900 calories. However, Heidi has now rubbished this and called the reports a 'bunch of crap', saying she's worried they might inspire people to follow it.
Klum hits back at calorie accusations
“I just got home and some friends are sending me these articles that have been written that I only take in 900 calories," Heidi said on Instagram.
"I want to say, I don’t think I’ve ever had to count my calories in my life, and don’t believe everything that you read. So, I don’t count my calories."
She went on to say she doesn't believe a 900 calorie diet is healthy and said she doesn't want people to follow that.
“Someone asked me how much I weighed and I got on the scale and showed how much I weighed and, I don’t know, people just put things together and just write a bunch of crap.
“People just make up stories,” Klum said. “One person writes it and then everyone jumps on it.”
“It’s really sad because, you know, people read that and they think that and possibly follow that, and that’s not good for [them].
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Backlash over Klum's Story
Nonetheless, Klum's actions left many taken aback, sparking a wave of reactions from social media users who accused the 50-year-old of promoting unhealthy eating habits by stepping on the scales.
Expressing their concerns on Twitter, one individual wrote, "For all the women out there, that's not healthy." Another chimed in, asking, "Is that not just an eating disorder?" To which several people responded, "yes."
One person pointed out: "This is terrible, that's why many people suffer from eating problems because people like her said this without thinking about the consequences."
Adding to the chorus, another voice weighed in, "Uhhhhh really dangerous to publish this and not simultaneously point out that this is unnatural and unhealthy and undeniably disordered eating." Echoing the concern, someone else stated, "Not medical advice, but a caloric deficit for women is 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day. 900 and below is very much unhealthy because your body isn't absorbing the nutrients it needs to properly function."
Someone else urged, "girl, seek help."
Yet, amid the criticism, there were those who defended Klum's honesty. One supporter expressed, "It’s better than those models who are like yeah I eat pizza and burgers every day."
Klum gets candid
Klum's history of dietary transparency goes back to 2008 when she graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She shared her habit of consuming small meals every three hours, avoiding food after 8pm, and opting for an apple when hungry.
As time has passed, Klum's approach has evolved to focus on informed food choices. In her words from a 2020 interview with Red Magazine, she remarked, "In the beginning, I had to [be disciplined about food] and now I’m just so used to it... There are so many choices, just pick the right things. Because then you don’t have the struggle."
This article has been updated
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