Weight Watchers face speaks out after company slammed for implying fat women don’t enjoy sex

It’s the body image controversy that ignited when Weight Watchers sent out a “mood light” bulb to media to promote their new campaign aimed at getting women to see themselves in a new light.

RELATED: 'It's a known thing how fat I was': Khloe Kardashian gets body-shamed
RELATED: Fitness trackers may not help you lose weight

"This globe is a 'mood light' designed to give you a little boost in the bedroom", the packaging read.

But the weight loss company was quickly inundated with criticism the campaign implied bigger women didn’t enjoy their sex lives - or needed dimmer lighting to feel confident in front of their partners.

Weight Watchers was soon on the defensive, with senior marketing manager, Rebecca Melville telling Mumbrella: “As we launched, we launched in stages and that has fuelled the conversation without context.”

But for Weight Watchers member and journalist Kara Byers who helps front the campaign, it’s a message she stands by 100 percent.

“There are hundreds of thousands of women out there who cannot stand the way they look,” Kara tells Be. “Part of the approach of Weight Watchers isn’t about losing the weight, it’s about coming to terms with yourself.”

For Kara, who lost 19 kg on the program, being uncomfortable with her body since the age of 10 saw it affect every aspect of her life.

“I went out with [my ex] for 10 years, he never saw me completely naked because I just didn’t have a good relationship with my body,” she reveals.

Research shows 61 percent of women believe their sex lives are affected by how they feel about their bodies.

It’s something Kara agrees wholeheartedly with.

“Unfortunately our entire culture is based around the idea your looks are what makes you desirable,” says Kara.

“As a single woman, the number one dating advice that is constantly hammered into me is you’ve got to look as good as you possible can.”

"What I find most intriguing about all the objections to this campaign is I took all my clothes off for a magazine cover and that was interpreted as 'Women taking control' and 'Look at these brave women' – they were all the headlines,” says Kara.

“But as soon as we involve sex it’s, 'Put these women back into a box', and 'No, that’s not ok for women to talk about'. I’m shocked.”

Want more celebrity, entertainment and lifestyle news? Follow Be on Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram