(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Chaz Bono has started losing weight since he began rehearsals for Dancing With The Stars, it is being reported.

The 42-year-old is said to have struggled with his weight for many years but is using his appearance on the hit television show to get into shape.

Chaz, who is the son of pop diva Cher, rehearsed for several hours yesterday and already looks to have shed some pounds.

It's claimed that he has already lost anywhere between five and 20 pounds since being cast.

Other celebrities like Kirstie Alley, Kelly Osbourne and Marie Osmond famously were a fraction of their sizes at the end compared to when they started doing their rumba and ballroom steps on the dancing show.

Chaz has also been seeing fitting in regular gym sessions to get his stamina levels up before the show premieres on September 19.

One of his major problems though may be the junk food that producers of the show make available to contestants while they are rehearsing, TMZ reports.

He has apparently now made very specific demands to producers on the food that he wants prepared for him.

In 2008 Chaz completed his gender transition from female to male and was legally ordained a man by the state of California in May 2010.

A transgender advocate, Chaz has addressed the controversy that has arisen as a result of his involvement with the show saying that he is glad he is bringing awareness to the issue. (C) Cover Media