Actress Sara Rue will become a celebrity spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, starting in January.

Rue, 30, will undertake to lose almost 14kg. She said: “Losing this weight goes beyond just what it will mean physically. It’s about establishing emotional stability in my life. My weight has been on a roller-coaster since I was a young girl, but I’m committed to gaining control of this aspect of my life.”

The actress, who has appeared in Pearl Harbor and most recently on TV’s Eastwick, said: “My hope is that my story may inspire other women who are facing similar battles to seek help and take control. Through a new-found commitment, my family’s support and the one-on-one personal consultant from Jenny Craig, I’m confident that I will be able to get off this roller-coaster once and for all.”

Jenny Craig’s chief executive, Patti Larchet, said: “We’re very excited to have Sara join the Jenny Craig family. She has embraced our program wholeheartedly and is very optimistic about this new challenge in her life. Sara will relate to women and men from all walks of life that have struggled with their weight and are now looking to get healthier.”