Mr Motivator reveals he thinks people now take criticism of their weight ‘too personally’ despite levels of diabetes and obesity going ‘through the roof’

He gained fame as someone who moved the country by influencing people to lose weight and start exercising.

But Motivator believes people are now taking criticism of their weight “too personally”, despite the fact that diabetes and obesity levels are “through the roof”.

The fitness fanatic, who shared his exercise routines on GMTV throughout the 1990s, said back then he could “poke” someone in the stomach and tell them they needed to get in shape.

But today, he says, people are so sensitive about their shape and size that they complain of being fat-shamed when told to get in shape.

speak at loose ends podcastHe said that in today’s age of body positivity, everyone believes they have the right to “be the size they want to be.”

Mr Motivator, whose real name is Derrick Evans, 71, but is known for his unitards and colorful spandex outfits, says Britons spend so much time in front of the TV that diabetes and obesity levels are on the rise. “It went through the roof,” he said.

He said, “Back then, you could actually tell someone was fat if you wanted to, and no one took it so personally.”

“You might poke someone in the stomach and say, ‘You need to deal with that,’ but that was the early ’90s.

“Times have changed. Everyone should have the right to be the size they want to be, so we won’t do that.”

“But I believe my job is to say, ‘Listen, you can be a size 20 if you want, but you can also fit in a 20.’

He said he always liked “dressing it up with sweet coatings” and making shape-ups “bright and colorful” and “fun.”

He added: “Obesity levels and diabetes levels in this country are through the roof.

“This problem is going through the roof because people are getting lazy and spending too much time in front of the TV and not really thinking about the fact that they are fine specimens and need to take care of it. I did.

“So my goal right now is to say, ‘Listen, I’m 71 years old, but as far as I’m concerned, I want to be a living example of someone who is going over hills and still gaining speed.’ ”

Mr. Motivator shot to fame in 1993 as GMTV’s health and fitness guru, leading the nation in early morning training sessions.

In September, 30 years after his debut on the show, he returned to daytime television for an interview on This Morning, much to the delight of viewers.

The fitness instructor wowed fans with his youthful looks and abundance of energy as he chatted to Holly Willoughby and Dermot O’Leary before demonstrating his exercise routine.

The Lycra-loving legend revealed that the key to his attitude lies in his mindset, explaining:

“If you practice being positive, you will always be positive.”

But it wasn’t always easy for the star, who recalls a time when he was homeless.

The Jamaican-born fitness expert said: ‘I live near Arsenal and every day I go to a homeless family unit and sit outside on my suitcase waiting for someone to give me a place to stay and food. “I was there,” he said.

“But through it all, I really stayed hopeful. We all go through hardships, but we learn to appreciate the good times when they come.”