The Biggest Loser - Overrated or Not?

Posted on Mar 17th 2009 4:00PM by Bev Sklar

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

In "Diet Blog's" The 8 Most Overrated Health Trends last week, NBC's weight-loss reality show "The Biggest Loser" made the list. Author Mike Howard says the show sets up people for unrealistic expectations, stating its "lose scale weight at all costs mentality" is flawed.

I disagree. For once, people facing morbid obesity are actually getting positive attention, not shame. There are weeks of success instead of more negative, impersonal stories about obesity's drain on our health care system. Granted, spending hours a day at a spa gym is the farthest place from reality for the average American, but one season of "The Biggest Loser" is packed with practical diet and fitness advice for the masses. Check out the last four year's worth of Viewer Weight Loss Gallery shots at "The Biggest Loser" and witness all the fans who've successfully dropped major pounds and changed their lives. It can be done.

Some of the show's producer-driven drama I could do without, but at least contestants are losing serious weight and significantly improving their health via strenuous exercise and a calories in/calories out, nutritious-eating strategy for a lifetime -- not with a magic pill, pre-packaged meal plan or surgery. This show is imperfect, but it's not overrated. What do you think?

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Tags: Bev-Sklar, Diet-Blog, Mike-Howard, the-biggest-loser, The-Biggest-Loser-Couples

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Hayley 3-17-2009 @ 5:01PM

I do feel like it's a bit overrated. These people lose a ridiculous amount of weight per week by working out for upwards of 6 hours a day in addition to eating very little. On the ranch,they follow a completely unrealistic lifestyle that's impossible to maintain at home without letting it consume their lives. To me,it seems like there isn't very much concern for the contestants' long-term weight loss and health. There's more concern about shock value and ratings.

Jon 3-18-2009 @ 1:26AM

I certainly agree with Bev that the producer-driven drama can get a bit old and tiring, however, I have to disagree with the unrealistic lifestyle changes.

First, in regards to "eating very little", they make it very apparent on the show that eating properly is just as (if not more) important than exercising. Case in point, this season, Bob actually scolded Mikey for not eating enough food which was causing his body not to burn enough fat and calories.

Regarding working out six hours a day, yes that is a bit extreme. However, these people are at their wits end; they need extreme to get them where they need to be. But as extreme as it is, it's not out of the question, even for someone at home. Sione made an excellent argument stating that before coming on the show he didn't have time to exercise, yet he still managed to watch upwards of four hours of T.V. per night...

So, yes, there is much concern for ratings, but it's a T.V. show, they need ratings to survive. Too many people are missing the forest for the trees. The people that go on this show are transforming their lives! Inspiring? Absolutely! Easy to do? No Way! Impossible? Obviously not, just look at Ali.

Melinda 3-21-2009 @ 10:20AM

I wouldn't say over rated, I would say it gives america an unrealistic look at weight loss in general. I really wish the show would focus more on the psychology of the players, the environment they grew up in, and how they are going to take what they learned back home. I wish they had more nutritionist on set in the kitchen explaining the benefits of ingredients, not just their caloric value. And it would be nice to see a disclaimer at the end of the show that states the average healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week, not 14...

People that watch the show and try to diet on their own get upset at themselves when they don't lose even 5 pounds in a week. It's not that easy. It's never been fully explained on the show their caloric intake, or how much exercise they are doing. I'd like to see a players online bodybugg chart :)

All in all, I'm addicted to the show... but that's besides the point..