Over the past two years the 25-year-old has combined a healthy diet with exercise to shed 71 kilograms.

Mr Setright, who previously weighed 175 kilograms, said he had learned that real sustainable weight loss takes time. 

“Honestly, you think it’s going to be easy, but it’s not easy at all,” he said.

 “There is no magic pill, it is all about hard work and self-control.”

Mr Setright said he would go through stages of losing weight.

“My weight loss plateaued a lot,” he said. “But you just have to keep at it.”

He usually exercises at Cityfit Fitness Club five times a week and is careful with his diet.

Mr Setright’s steady approach to weight loss is in stark contrast to the rapid weight loss seen in television shows like The Biggest Loser.

When the finale of the weight loss show was broadcast recently, contestant Craig Booby was crowned the winner after having lost 79.8 kilograms to reach 103.6 kilograms.

In the space of a few months, Mr Booby lost 43.51 per cent of his total body weight, in comparison to Mr Setright, who has lost 40.57 per cent over two years.

Personal trainer Hugh Sligar said while it was possible for people to lose weight rapidly in a controlled environment, it was not sustainable.

He said that because Mr Setright had taken the time to make real life changes, he would be much more likely to keep the weight off.

“These people (on weight loss shows) train so hard ... that it can cause much damage to the metabolic system and they can gain the weight back quickly,” he said.

He said that contestants would find it incredibly hard once they left the show, as they would not have people ensuring that they exercised and ate correctly.

“When they get out, they can find it difficult when the time comes to use their own self-control,” he said.

Mr Setright said his weight loss had given him renewed confidence.

“I always had my head down and would only ever talk to my best friend. Now I have more confidence,” he said.