"Revisiting 'The Biggest Loser': A new documentary uncovers the negative impact the health-focused show had on participants"
In a groundbreaking study, the long-term effects of the diet and exercise regimen on "The Biggest Loser" contestants have been scrutinized. The findings are concerning, particularly regarding the contestants' metabolism and the sustainability of their weight loss.
A landmark study tracking 14 contestants over a period of 6 years found that an astounding 13 regained most or all of the weight they had lost, with several even exceeding their starting weight. This is a troubling statistic, but what's more alarming is the damage done to their metabolism.
The contestants' metabolism suffered lasting damage, with an average reduction of 600-700 calories burned per day compared to normal controls, even six years after the show ended. This "metabolic adaptation" persists long-term, making it extremely difficult to maintain weight loss despite sustained effort.
The show's regimen involved extreme calorie restriction—sometimes as low as 800-1,400 calories daily—and hours of intense daily exercise, sometimes up to eight hours. These extreme measures produced rapid weight loss but also caused significant physical harm and health risks. Contestants faced muscle loss, gallbladder issues, nutritional deficiencies, and severe injuries such as rhabdomyolysis and kidney problems.
This combination of aggressive dieting and overexercising led to a "starvation mode" effect where the body reduces its metabolic rate drastically, making ongoing weight maintenance exceedingly difficult. The extreme approach prioritized entertainment value over contestant health, contributing to unsustainable weight loss and long-term metabolic damage.
The diet and exercise regimen was not sustainable, leading to damaged metabolism that hinders weight loss maintenance. Cruelty, verbal abuse, and indirect physical abuse were also present in "The Biggest Loser", with the show making fun of fat people and emphasizing negative stereotypes about larger bodies.
Oona Hanson, a parent coach who specializes in helping families navigate diet culture and eating disorders, stated that "The Biggest Loser" supported a myth around weight: that the size of a person's body is totally under their control, and having a larger body is a sign of lack of willpower or moral failing.
Research suggests that metabolic changes from the dramatic weight loss depicted on "The Biggest Loser" make it harder to keep the weight off long term. Six years after contestants were on the show, the 14 studied on average still had a slower metabolism, even if they had regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost.
The exercise regimen was intense, often spanning eight hours a day. The show's regimen for contestants included drastic calorie restrictions, with men advised to consume 1,500 to 2,000 calories per day and women 1,200 calories, but sometimes as low as 800 calories daily.
"The Biggest Loser" may have been canceled years ago, but its lasting influence underscores the fact that the United States has not elevated the way people talk about weight and bodies. The punishing approach to food and exercise showcased on "The Biggest Loser" works against long-term health-promoting activities.
Drastic weight loss transformations, as shown on "The Biggest Loser", may not stand the test of time. A 2017 study following 14 contestants found that many regained much or all the weight they had lost after the show. The Netflix docuseries "Fit for TV: The Reality of 'The Biggest Loser'" premieres on Friday and investigates the impact of the show on contestants and conversations around health.
Keeping the weight off long term is nearly impossible without continued extreme measures over many years, because your body will fight against you to maintain that weight or defend it at the initially higher level. Their bodies were naturally burning fewer calories throughout the day and increasing hunger cues.
Content that stigmatizes the size of a person's body and emphasizes thinness at all costs impacts not just the contestants, but also the viewers at home, affecting how people see their communities and themselves. The docuseries "Fit for TV: The Reality of 'The Biggest Loser'" shares that the reality show's lasting influence highlights the need for a cultural shift in how people talk about weight and bodies.
An extreme diet and exercise regimen, as shown on "The Biggest Loser", is associated with significant health risks such as gallbladder complications, muscle loss, nutritional deficiencies, heart problems, dehydration, injury, and prevention of maintaining healthy behaviors. The series shows clips of contestants vomiting, dropping from treadmills, and using caffeine pills to curb appetite, further emphasizing the unhealthy nature of the show's approach.
In conclusion, the diet and exercise regimen on "The Biggest Loser" led to unsustainable weight loss, long-term metabolic damage, and significant health risks. The show's approach to weight loss and body image has had a lasting impact, underscoring the need for a cultural shift in how we talk about weight and bodies.
- The groundbreaking study revealed that contestants on "The Biggest Loser" faced long-term metabolic changes, resulting in an average reduction of 600-700 calories burned per day compared to normal controls.
- The regimen involved not only extreme calorie restriction but also intense daily exercise, leading to significant health risks such as muscle loss, gallbladder issues, nutritional deficiencies, and injuries.
- The "entertainment value" prioritized by "The Biggest Loser" overshadowed the contestants' health and wellness, supporting a harmful myth that weight loss can be achieved through brute force and willpower alone.
- The negative impact of "The Biggest Loser" on contestants' health extends beyond the show, with metabolic changes making it difficult to maintain weight loss and contributing to unsustainable weight loss trends in the general public.
