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Biggest Loser - The Criticism Continues
Posted on Sep 23rd 2009 9:00AM by Bev Sklar |
| Photo: NBC |
Where's The Progression? More than one fitness pro questions the lack of physical progression and safety at the ranch. Sure, you can cut calories suddenly, but should contestants be doing explosive, full-body plyometric exercises? Where's the how-to on designing an effective workout for the masses that supports a 1- to 2-pound loss each week? Instead, clients are at risk for injury/overtraining as they're pushed to the limit to lose a dozen or more pounds weekly. Koops, the show's co-creator, reminds us this is a reality TV show, not a sports-training show. The average viewer is entertained and ideally inspired toward a healthier lifestyle. Harper says there's a definite progression, but acknowledges it's in fast-forward -- however, given the four to six hours a day each contestant works out, fitness capacity increases quickly, and this speedy progression is entirely justifiable.
Both sides make good points, but while contestants' cardio capacities may be increasing at sufficient rates, can their skeletal systems handle the sudden pounding? Don't forget about Laura's serious cracked pelvis during Season 7. And what about the two contestants who were sent to the hospital last week after being asked to run a mile for immunity on a first-day challenge? That's not progression, it's shock entertainment pointing an immunity gun at their heads. "This is dangerous TV," says physical trainer and exercise physiologist Laura Gideon.
Don't Forget the Cutting Room Floor. Season 5 winner Ali Vincent defends the show delivers a responsible progression. She confirmed contestants started out very slowly and only ran at high speeds for short bouts near the end of the series after they had lost serious weight. However, with medical emergencies becoming part of the show's landscape, some would argue responsibility is what's being edited out.
Is the Last Chance Workout Bizarre or Relevant? Viewers' blood pressures amp up as contestants sweat buckets during the pre-weigh-in Last Chance Workout. Some claim Last Chance exercises are exotic, bizarre and unnecessary. Bob Harper said, "They're wrong." Contestants can do the exercises, and the Last Chance Workout is not a blanket set of exercises, only the contestants with strong legs may be doing plyo jumps. Of course, the viewing world is immersed in those exotic money shots. However, while fitness pro Jay Dawes shared you can't evaluate a program unless you see the full picture, he was "appalled" at some trainer positions, such as kneeling on client's backs or placing themselves between client legs.
Are Contestants Inspired or Bullied? Beyond the fact the show's trainer Jillian Michaels would scare most anyone into shape, are Jillian and Bob inspiring or bullying lifestyle change? That's Fit lost count at the Season 8 premiere f-bombs. While Michaels was not interviewed for the article, Season 7 winner Helen Phillips reports Jillian is quite intuitive, and when she yells, you jump. She's invested in your success. Bob explained you can't compare the ranch with a typical client-trainer relationship. The trainers are with clients six days a week -- any screaming is because they care, perhaps too much. Just watch an entire season from start to finish, and you'll realize the trainers are fully invested in their clients' successes. Now whether they need to yell or not is another matter entirely. Possibly more of a producer matter.
Does the Show Inspire You? Vogel reports a qualitative study in Obesity Management that found 54 percent of obese and morbidly obese Australians watching their country's Biggest Loser series felt the basic concept of the show was negative, and some felt it was offensive. However 51 percent reported the show's approach to weight loss -- healthy eating and exercise -- was good. About 25 percent said the rapid weight loss sends a dangerous message and goes against the advice provided by health professionals. Thirty-one participants said Biggest Loser weight-loss techniques are not accessible or affordable by the majority of people facing obesity. "The positive message that [the show] sends is that weight loss is possible through hard work and behavior modification," said personal trainer Pete McCall. "The negative message that is communicated is that exercise has to be extreme." So true. Don't forget, Biggest Loser is a non-surgical solution to morbid obesity, and executive producer Mark Koops estimated 50 percent of contestants keep their goal weight after the show, 25 percent keep off significant weight and a final 25 percent struggle. Contestants, however, are now just one element of The Biggest Loser brand, and it's unclear whether those impressive stats are being replicated for the millions that will never visit the ranch.
Now it's time for you to weigh-in on the show's approach to fostering healthy lifestyle change. Place your vote in the poll, leave a clarifying comment if you can, then head on over to last week's recap to catch up on the Season 8 premiere.
