Q:Who really is “The BIGGEST Loser?” A: The Viewing Audience… The most “Non- Reality” Show on Television

From the minute this so called “reality” show came on television, I have been annoyed. With every season that goes by and this show remains on the NBC network, new desperate, unknowing victims are being subjected to cruel punishment (disguised as exercise) and my annoyance grows deeper. The bar keeps getting raised after each “winner” takes home their quarter million dollar prize, cover of People magazine and talk show interviews. Seasons go by and viewers keep tuning in. As long as the ratings stay high, the network and the producers are happy, money‘s being made and who gives a crap about the message being sent.

Well..I DO!

And so do many of my Fitness /Health/ Wellness colleagues out in the real fitness world. We have remained virtually silent and in the background way too long and it is now time to speak up and let the public know what is reality and what is hyped infotainment disguised as Reality TV.

Another season - another the new crop of willing volunteers (or shall I call them victims) line up to get on and bare their souls to millions of TV viewers. Little do these poor unsuspecting, overweight contestants know the danger they will be subjected to physically, mentally, medically and most of all emotionally. The sad part is - that is exactly what the producers want in order to have this show be viewed as “authentic” while pulling at the heart strings of the unsuspecting public. Meanwhile, the actual beating heart muscle of every contestant is being put to a very dangerous test the entire time they are on the ranch. The saying “desperate people do desperate things” is very evident regarding this show. Contestants are clearly desperate and that is what makes them vulnerable and so easy to prey upon.

I recently read an LA Times article published this past November titled “The Biggest Loser: Should you mimic its weight-loss methods at home?” The article included perspectives from experts in the fitness industry (including a kinesiology professor and an IDEA fitness trainer of the year) along with the show’s co-creator/ executive producer and medical consultant. The two opposing opinions could not be more polar opposite with the fitness industry professionals comments airing on the side of “viewers beware this show may cause severe injury or heart attack” to the show’s producer and medical consultant touting that its “inspiring the obese to lose weight and they should not feel hopeless anymore because on this show people learn things no one has taught them before, like how to exercise.” That comment came from the show’s medical consultant.

Has he actually watched the show?

I would love to hear what he has to say when the first contestant actually does die of a heart attack as a result of this show. By the way, is a crash cart within arm’s reach? Do Bob and Jillian have CPR certifications and know how to operate a defibrillator? Unfortunately, it will probably take more than one person to suffer something life threatening before NBC takes notice to the dangers these contestants are subjected to. Apparently a recent stress fracture of the hip of one contestant (Laura) is not enough to send up a red flag. Little does she realize how fortunate she is to be sent packing.

As a fitness professional in this industry for more than 28 years I was curious as to how my colleagues in the health arena felt about this show. The impetus for writing this article came after reading a recent commentary in the IDEA (International Dance Exercise Association) monthly Fitness Journal regarding the “distortion of reality” of the Biggest Loser Show. The comment was written by a well respected fitness professional and educator who’s appalled at this TV reality series, and could not hold in his anger one more moment. Needless to say, I did a happy dance after reading it! -FINALLY…someone was speaking out in our trade journal – YES! His final words: “I am furious that the profession I have cultivated for 28 years is portrayed in this fashion.” I could not agree with him more.

I decided to take the baton and run with it.

I perused the internet to read everything I could about how other fitness professionals felt about this show and the comments were all very similar – mostly disdain. I decided to post a discussion question to my fitness professional groups on LinkedIn (one is the IDEA fitness group): “In your professional opinion what do you think of the show The Biggest Loser and the trainers Bob and Jillian…Do you feel the message being sent to the public is inspiring or dangerous?” The response was over whelming!

These are some of the comments:
“The biggest downside to this show is that it sets up unreal expectations of weight loss”

“As fitness professionals we need to stop associating exercise with punishment! (The simplest example is in public schools where the gym teacher will make a student do pushups when they are fooling around or not performing well).”

“The main problem I have is the lack of risk messaging that I see on the show”

“I am troubled with their choice of incentives for losing weight-using money as a prize encourages people to cheat or lose weight through unhealthy measures such as diuretics”

“The show does not explain often enough that for the average person, obese or not, anything beyond 2pounds of weight loss per week is counterproductive”

“The yelling…it makes for great ratings - but at the expense of what?”

“Great question simple answer…DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS.”

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. We are fitness professionals who tune in for five minutes and instantly realize the danger in the message being sent. However the viewing public does not. That is why this show is going into its what? Eighth season? A well informed viewing audience who knows what genuine fitness training is, along with proper nutrition and sustainable healthy weight loss practices, would never buy into this load of crap. All they see is in three months an “amazing” transformation from obese to buff and none of the smoke and mirrors. Viewers don’t see how they are being manipulated through emotional, gut-wrenching stories and crocodile tears to pull at the heartstrings.

Never mind the heartstrings. Here are some things to wrap your brain around….
Scientific fact: Healthy FAT loss is no greater than 2 pounds per week – period. For every 3,500 calories you do not consume or a 500 kcal deficit per day amounts to a 1 pound (fat) weight loss. That’s ONE POUND per week! The shows results are completely unrealistic according to basic human physiology. The weight loss numbers do not add up – it is totally impossible for this rate of FAT loss (which the show alludes to as FAT loss) to occur. Contestants show a supposed 7 day weight (fat) loss sometimes in excess of 20 pounds. A 20 pound weight loss (of FAT) in one week is 70,000 calories, which is a 10,000 calorie deficit PER DAY. An Iron Man athlete would have trouble doing that, even Michael Phelps during the Olympics would have trouble doing that and these people are unfit, overweight individuals NOT elite athletes. They should NOT even be working out 6-8 hours a day! To burn off that amount of calories would mean constant fueling. You can’t exercise 6-8 hours a day without fuel – period. Am I clear here? The contestants are NOT losing fat – they are losing mostly everything but that (like water weight). The people who are actually losing weight slowly with a more realistic number for of weight loss are penalized, humiliated and punished by being sent home with their tail tucked between their legs as if they did something horrible.

How sick is that?

Have we as a society become so desensitized that we do not recognize torment and torture to individuals disguised as “made for reality TV?”
These contestants are ridiculed and yelled at by their “trainers” (which by the way is NOT the way you get someone to embrace exercise), asked to participate while being subjected to highly injurious workouts and bated with rewards of being able to choose who gets to be eliminated while being enticed by highly caloric cupcakes. I have seen negligence regularly on the part of both trainers with regard to safety, improper technique and form in execution of movement while resistance training, spinning and kettlebell training in addition to numerous other workout routines. Nutrition education seems to be almost entirely excluded on this show in addition to any emotional (eating) issues being addressed by a professional (which I would think would be of the utmost importance). Don’t you think there are deeply rooted emotional and psychological issues that should be addressed here? What is NOT seen leaves the mind to wonder? When the Biggest Loser does do a “follow up” show they seem to glaze over the fact that most of the contestants have re-gained weight (some almost back to the size they were pre-show) in addition to the feelings of embarrassment that overwhelmed them enough to feel sequestered in their own home.

Why is this show still on the air?

Now tell me. Is this show really about health? Being socially acceptable? Or is it about making bucks by marginalizing a segment of the population based on appearance?
I say it is the latter of the three and wholeheartedly believe that all the real fitness professionals out there would absolutely agree.

My letter to Oprah about an upcoming BIGGEST LOSER show

I was so appalled at Oprah when she had Gwyneth Paltrow on and her emaciated body along with her trainer Tracy Anderson and the complete nonsense workout she had her do - I decided enough was enough.....So noticing on her website that she is having an upcoming show featuring the Biggest Loser show and all that surrounds it I had to speak out..... So I did!


Dear Oprah
September 25, 2008

I noticed on the website you have an upcoming show about “The Biggest Loser” and I wanted to respond, however this is more than 2000 characters so I just had to write and send it in (the old fashion way).

I have wanted to voice my opinion on The Biggest Loser since the inception of this show. I will come right to point and let you know that I feel it is the single worst reality show on TV today (or one of the many single worst shows). I happen to live in Los Angeles (the entertainment capitol of the planet) and have realized that things definitely operate differently here than in other parts of the country. I am a born and bred New England Girl (NY/Connecticut) and moved to LA LA land 3+ years ago when I re-married a native Angeleno. Being in the Health / Fitness profession for the last 27 years I decided to move west after living bi-coastally from my husband for a year and half. I figured it would be easy to re-start my personal training business in LA after having a long established training business in CT. What I learned was the rules are different in LA when it comes to fitness and the fitness business. It’s about who you know and what celeb you are training that lands credibility to your resume as a trainer instead of experience, education and true passion for the profession. I find many so called trainers (who are also out of work actors) are more interested in being on TV rather than really wanting to get the public healthy and fit. It’s sad that the viewing public will buy what these so called fitness experts are selling as the latest greatest fitness product or workout when it is nothing but a bunch of hype to inflate their ego. Which brings me back to the biggest loser infotainment (pull at your heartstrings) for the overweight to get your butt off the couch you big loser. This whole entire show serves one purpose and one purpose only, a high rating which leads to more of the almighty dollar in the true fat cats pockets. It’s appalling that people who clearly are hurting emotionally dealing with obesity in their lives and their family’s lives are subject to being put on public display to only be brow beaten for the sake of entertainment and what will look good for the camera to lose the most weight of all the contestants that week. I realize that contestants bear responsibility here as well; accepting to take this on, feeling that this is their last hope for losing weight and of course winning 250,000 for losing big. And the audience buys this crap hook line and sinker and that’s why the show continues season after season sending the wrong message. People who are overweight and have been battling their weight for years are grasping at anything they feel will help them. The Biggest Loser show I believe is a complete detriment but the producers certainly do know how to pull at the heartstrings - that’s the entertainment industry at its best. They can do this because of editing and designing the show for the public to see what they strategically want them to see to get the largest viewing audience buying this crap. But this is far from the reality of their lives and what they have to deal with on an everyday basis to combat losing the weight and becoming healthier and fit. I would like to see how many of these biggest loser contestants actually keep the weight off (the real percentage) and not just the ones who are paid after the shows aired to keep it off for the reunion show or knowing they will be on camera in the future. I would like to know the real behind the scenes of how these contestants are actually treated and feel about this whole ordeal. I am truly amazed that no one has died after what they are asked to do to so they can win a phone call home. This show does not send a true message as to what it takes for an overweight person to become fit and healthy. NOT EVEN CLOSE. An article written by James O. Hill, Ph.D. in the October 2005 issue of Obesity Management (pg 187) clearly explains my point. In fact, this (show) is the thought process those of us in the (real) healthcare/fitness/wellness industry have been trying to change. This show trivializes the complex genetic and environmental influences on our behavior and weight. It perpetuates the wrong message to those who most need the right message.
To me this show is THE BIGGEST LOSER.
Thank You for listening.
Respectfully,
Laura S. Gideon M.S., CPT
Owner Bamboo Balance LLC Fitness & Aquatics Training, Exercise Physiologist, Cert. Fitness & Pilates Trainer, Nutrition Counselor