Virgin Active Gyms Slammed For Selling 'Thigh Gap' Diet Meals

Company has said these products will be removed from its gyms.

Virgin Active has come under fire for selling “dieting” meals named “Thigh Gap” and “Skinny Elvis” in one of its London gyms.

Theatre publicist Hannah Stockton spotted the meals in the Strand branch of Virgin Active. She posted a photo of the dishes on Twitter, telling the brand: “Really disappointed to see you now stock self proclaimed ‘diet food’ in your cafes with meal names ‘Thigh Gap’.

“This isn’t responsible. Saddened this made it to the shelf. You should be promoting a healthy relationship with food and exercise. #bodypositivity.”

In a statement given to HuffPost UK, Virgin Active confirmed the products are created by Protein Haus, which supplies three of its 43 gyms nationwide.

“We absolutely agree that this product name is unacceptable, we have therefore asked the producer of the product, Protein Haus, to remove all of them and ensure an alternative option is available in its place,” a spokesperson told HuffPost UK.

“We have taken swift action to ensure that this product is no longer available and will not be available going forwards.”

Dear @VirginActiveUK really disappointed to see you now stock self proclaimed ‘diet food’ in your cafes with meal names ‘Thigh Gap’. This isn’t responsible. Saddened this made it to the shelf. You should be promoting a healthy relationship with food & exercise. #bodypositivity pic.twitter.com/Hr9FMPe7H5

— Hannah Stockton (@hannahstocko) April 11, 2019

In a further tweet to the gym company, Stockton wrote: “This shouldn’t be in a gym. It’s probably taken a lot of people a while to get to a place of exercising for enjoyment and because it feels good without the goal of losing weight. It just reinforces rubbish gym stereotypes.”

She added that it had taken years for her to be “ok with going to a gym without miraculously becoming a size zero” and said products like this didn’t help.

Virgin Active responded to Stockton on Twitter, saying: “I’m sorry to hear that you’re not happy with the name of this product. I’ll be sure to pass your feedback on.”

A later tweet from Virgin Active said: “I understand and I’m sorry about how this makes you feel.”

I understand and I'm sorry about how this makes you feel. I'll make sure it's addressed with the relevant management ^JMC

— Virgin Active UK (@VirginActiveUK) April 11, 2019

Other Twitter users also criticised the products, as well as Virgin Active’s initial response to Stockton’s complaint.

One person said: “I think you need to be sorry that the product is unhelpful and unhealthy, not pretending this is about feelings.”

Get a grip @VirginActiveUK this is embarrassing.
Well done @hannahstocko for calling this out! Disgusting. Definitely not joining virgin gyms with my lack of thigh gap!!

— Poppy Rowley (@poppychristobel) April 11, 2019

I think you need to be sorry that the product is unhelpful and unhealthy, not pretending this is about feelings.

— Kate Joester (@rebelraising) April 11, 2019

Ugh this is beyond depressing. Not to mention disgustingly sexist (as far as I know the 'thigh gap' is not promoted as a male aesthetic ideal...)

— Dr Elly McCausland (@nutmegs_seven) April 12, 2019

It's hard to believe that any company could be this dense in 2019. Wow. This is terrible, really awful branding that does nothing but encourage an unhealthy relationship with food. Gross.

— Lize Brittin (@Lizefb) April 12, 2019

In a later tweet, Virgin Active said it has asked its supplier, Protein Haus, to remove the product and make an alternative available.

Thanks for flagging your concerns. We have asked Protein Haus, our supplier, to remove the product and an alternative option will be available from now on ^JMC

— Virgin Active UK (@VirginActiveUK) April 12, 2019

HuffPost UK has contacted Protein Haus for comment and will update this piece if we receive a response.

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