Biggest Loser - The Criticism Continues

by Bev Sklar (Subscribe to Bev Sklar's posts)
Sep 23rd 2009 9:00AM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Photo: NBC

The hit reality TV show "The Biggest Loser" is certainly entertaining and inspiring -- we faithfully feature the show each week at That's Fit. But are some of the show's practices risking morbidly-obese participants physically and mentally? Amanda Vogel over at IDEA Fitness Journal interviewed a variety of accredited fitness pros, along with Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper and executive producer Mark Koops. You guessed it, opinions are contentiously mixed on whether or not this show is good for participants, and a positive boost for the fitness industry overall.

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.

Comments (231)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)

Tony 9-23-2009 @ 10:48AM

I believe the show can be very unrealistic at times, but it is television. Of course " reality" television, but television all the same. I hope that a viewer at home doesn't think that 19 pounds in a week is possible. They live and breathe fitness at that ranch. They have no job or family responsibility, and work out 6 hours a day everyday. It's the equivalent of going to rehab.

The shows producers would not allow the trainers to do anything unsafe for the contestants, because plain and simple it would be bad for the show. Of course I would hope it's also for the sake of the contestants' well being.

I'm also not liking Shay's attitude toward Julio to much. No one should criticize any one on the show especially not this early on.

Margo 9-23-2009 @ 3:28PM

"wouldn't allow anything bad"? Honey, they already did. Prior contenstants have admitted to anorexic or bullimic behaviors. There are injuries they just don't advertise. Contestants undoubtedly sign contracts that forbid them from disclosing too much. The Producers dont' care about the contestants, that's not their job. They care about ratings. If they cared about contestants, the winner would be measured by Body Fat percentage and not weight loss. Because anyone can tell you that the last few pounds they lose will be muscle. And that's just not good.

whitenacks 9-23-2009 @ 10:43PM

It is very easy to pass judgement if you have never been over weight. I have been over weight my entire life 6 years ago I tipped the scales at 226 lbs,it has taken all this time to lose over 40 lbs. I did it with no fancy plans or trainers. I wish that I could afford a trainer I would love a chance to have all the doctors and trainers to help me loose the other 50 lbs my doctor wants me to loose. I think the producers are concerned with the contestants. We have to remeber that looseing weight DOES NOT HAPPEN with out hard work and watching what you eat. As for the trainers Jillian and Bob you aren't going to loose weight by hand holding and being nice.If that is all that was needed there would not be any fat people in the world!

lola 9-24-2009 @ 12:53AM

HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY NO ONE HAS SAID WHAT WAS WRONG WITH TRACI ON THE FIRST SHOW FOR SEASON 9? SHE WAS WALKING/RUNNING ON THE BEACH, FELL OUT WAS FLOWN BY HELICOPTER TO THE HOSPITAL AND WAS THERE FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOW SHE IS BACK ON THE SHOW. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC AND PEOPLE WHO WATCH THE SHOW TO KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HER, FOR THOSE OF US WHO WANT TO FOLLOW THE SAME EXERCISES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO US! IF YOU ARE GOING TO TEACH LESSONS, THEN TEACH THEM, SCHOOL US! THERE IS NO PRIVACY FOR A TV PERSONALITY, PLEASE SAY WHAT WAS HER MEDICAL PROBLEM FOR OUR BENEFIT. THANK YOU BOB AND JILLIAN. AND I AM GLAD TRACI IS BACK. GREAT SHOW.

RB 9-24-2009 @ 7:37AM

I totally agree with what you are saying Tony, especially the part about Shay. I was really rooting for her until seeing the way she talked about Julio. My fave is Abby! Shay will go home early.

geoffroi 9-24-2009 @ 7:58AM

You can't lose 25 lbs in a week without the use of drugs or some other help. i.e. let's round the calories per pound to 3000. 25 lbs x 3000 cals = 75,000 cals/week. Even if these morbidly obese people burn 3X the # of cals/day than someone of normal weight, that's only 6000 cals/day x 7 days/wk = 42,000 cals. So you have to burn an additional 33,000 cals. At 100 cals burned/mile, you'd have to run 330 miles/wk divided by 7 = 77 miles/day. OK, so let's say the 25 lbs was 1/2 water weight during that one week of huge weight loss- now they only need to run 18miles/day! What are they not telling us?

RONDA DOUGLAS 9-24-2009 @ 7:58AM

if thats all I had to do was exercise I would loose waite too

mbrul 9-24-2009 @ 11:16AM

I'd watch it if they had them wrestle for a donut.

junior 9-24-2009 @ 11:42AM

I'll bet everyone complaining about this show are the ones who were rejected to participate. All you fat asses get off the couch. You are the ones making are medical care so outragous with all the illnesses that your lazy fat ass causes.

kay 10-19-2009 @ 6:57PM

I think jillian should be fired because she has the worst attitude I have ever seen. She is a bully and she acts like she hates some of the contestants.She acts like she runs the show and that the show needs her she doesn't need her job.I stopped watching the show because I couldn't stand watching her with her nasty attitude and her dirty mouth anymore.Her head has gotten too big.

Lynn 9-23-2009 @ 1:36PM

The show has been most inspiring to myself and I really look forward to Tuesday nights. I realize that the BL is extreme when it comes to weight loss but I also realize that I can accomplish the same thing on a smaller (slower) scale. The BL consistently practices the same principals for weight loss: proper diet, exercise and life style changes.

Magic 9-23-2009 @ 10:15PM

So right , I love this show. What a lot of people don't realize is that it may seem like the show is extreme, for the contestent to get that large in there life, to think they can NEVER be healthy again it takes extreme measures to throw out that old lifestyle. Thats why so many people fail with diets. We live in a fast food society there are no fast food healthy restraunts. Everyone wants a fast fix. It it helps these people and motivates the rest of us coach potatoes who to say that this is a bad thing.

heidi H Christensen 9-24-2009 @ 1:43AM

They do push them BUT the contestants don't have to do it. AS for ME if only my knees and neck would allow it I would do at home what they do on the show. I would LOVE doing that stuff if I could!

Mgallup56 9-24-2009 @ 8:01PM

BUT!! As with all extreme measures like stomach stapling and the lap band procedure or these "over the top" weight loss programs, they don't address the REASON why these people became so morbidly obese, and until you solve that underlying problem the weight WILL come back. And how these men fathered children while this big just astounds me. And will the children grow up to be as big as the parents?

maggie 9-23-2009 @ 8:08PM

i think the show is phenominal.it gives me movtivation and seeing these people lose so much weight i wonderful. i wish them all the luck in the world i give so much credit.
GOOOO JILLIAN AND BOB keep up the awesome work with these wonderful people you help every year.

Valerie 9-23-2009 @ 8:27PM

The show is extreme. In it's first season I watched out of curiosity, and was appalled at the stereotypes and humiliation that the participants were subjected to for the cause of a game. However, it quickly became a feel-good series when positive supportive relationships developed between the participants. I was impressed, I think it was season 3 w Dr. Jeff, who never let the game come in the way of encouraging other people. It was very impressive and I think for the most part, the participants have kept up that positive atmosphere, while the show has backed off some of the more humiliating things it did.

I would also say though that I think the weighins where they are forced to strip down and the bullying attitude of the trainers is not good, and I would never go on the show for that reason. I also think it would be great to show a more doable, moderate pace of improvement.

Jennie 9-23-2009 @ 8:33PM

I can't believe people are actually questioning wether or not the producers care or not!!!! Of course they care or they wouldn't have made the show. And America cares because it has lasted 8 successful seasons with everyone teary-eyed as we watch and watch these people who so desperately need Bob and Jillian's help. This show has been a God send to a lot of people.People know what they are getting into when they sign up for the show. They like the harshness of the trainers!!!!!! That is their job!!! Some people need that to get motivated!!!! America cares!!! and so do the producers(and Bob and Jillian)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tori 9-24-2009 @ 2:42AM

Jillian Michaels should be fired. She;s a horror. Her blasting foul bullying is disgusting. And why do we only see these people working out and never eating. They got fat because of eating too much and all we see is them almost killing themselves in way too strenous physical activity. Fire Jillian Michaels and show me what these guys eat. How could they actually ask these obese people to run a mile the first day they arrived. I cant' and I work out everyday and am very thin. What doctor approved that scence.

DadofOne 9-24-2009 @ 9:08AM

Sorry, but if anyone thinks the producers care about the participants, I have a bridge I'll sell ya! As one who knows, there is NO reality in reality TV. Oh, and the person that stated the contestants sign contracts to limit what they can say. You are correct...it goes on for about 50 pages and explains that the show basically owns you. I am surprised that no lawyer has yet to challenge the contracts attempt to revoke a person's basic rights. One former contestant was threatened with a million dollar lawsuit for only stating facts. It ain't real, folks.