Sam Wood speaks out after claims he's 'cashing in' on weight loss jabs with new business venture

Celebrity trainer Sam Wood has broken his silence after he was accused of 'cashing in' on the booming medical industry with his latest business venture, OLLO for Women. 

The 46-year-old, who has built his career promoting exercise and healthy eating through his 28 by Sam Wood fitness empire, doubled down on his new project by sharing a defiant message to his fans via Instagram Stories on Thursday.

'I was up late last night reading everyone's messages and questions regarding OLLO. A huge amount of intrigue and excitement and questions,' he said.

'There's also some people that you're going to ruffle their feathers a little bit, which I knew was always going to be the case.'

The former Bachelor star acknowledged the venture was always going to be 'a bit polarising', insisting he was prepared for criticism.

'You know, I genuinely think that if you try to make everybody happy, typically the person you don't make happy is yourself,' Wood continued.

Wood also pushed back against suggestions the business was motivated by profit, claiming the decision stemmed from years spent working with Australians struggling to lose weight.

'I didn't launch OLLO to make people happy, I didn't launch OLLO to make money,' he said.

'I launched OLLO because I'm in a position every single day and have been for 25 years where I talk to people who are not winning this battle against losing weight and they need help.'

Wood also shared another resolute message in a separate post, writing: 'When you try to keep everyone happy, the person that often isn't happy is you.'

'I'm happy when I follow my purpose and help people. There's going to be people scanning and looking for reasons to get upset. That's a them problem, not a me problem.' 

Elsewhere on Thursday, Sam re-shared a clip from a new episode of SBS' Tell Me What You Really Think featuring guests defending the use of medical-assisted weight loss drugs from those who call it 'cheating'. 

Wood announced the launch of his new medical weight loss business earlier in the week, revealing the news during an appearance on the Fascinated podcast to discuss the explosion in popularity of peptides, GLP-1 medications and Ozempic.

The timing even surprised host Jacqui Felgate, who admitted she had no idea about the launch before asking whether more of Wood's clients were turning to the medications.

'This is gonna seem like this was a setup, and I promise you it's not, because I didn't know you were gonna ask me that question,' Wood joked.

'I actually launched a medical weight loss business yesterday.'

The fitness entrepreneur admitted the decision had not come easily and said it represented a significant shift in his approach to weight loss. 

'It's an extension of my 28 business, and it's one that I've wrestled with probably for the last two years,' he explained.

'I mean, if you'd asked me 10 years [ago] would I do this, I'd say, 'Absolutely not. That's crazy. That's not the way. You've gotta do the work, and you've gotta have the discipline and the willpower.'

However, Wood said the rapid rise of medical weight loss treatment - like peptides -  have become impossible to ignore.

'The evolution of this medical space is quite mind-blowing; it isn't going anywhere and is too hard to ignore,' he said.

'We've actually built out a program called OLLO. It's women only.'

While some praised Wood for his new business, many followers questioned whether the move contradicted the message that made him one of Australia's best-known fitness personalities.

One disappointed fan wrote: 'This is really disappointing.

'I understand this is a rapidly growing industry, and there are absolutely people for whom these medications are appropriate and can be life-changing. But for many others, they're becoming another response to society's relentless pressure to lose weight.

'What concerns me most is how easily they're being accessed and promoted. We still don't know the full long-term implications of widespread GLP-1 use, particularly in people without a clear medical indication.

'Like any medication, there are risks, and we're already seeing some people become seriously unwell.

'It feels like we've gone from promoting health to selling weight loss. That's disappointing.'

Another wrote: 'How disappointing. Everyone selling out.'

A third questioned Wood's own confidence in the venture, commenting: 'He doesn't seem convinced that it's a good idea himself.'

Others accused him of profiting from a trend he had previously resisted.