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The Biggest Loser Pros And Cons: An In-Depth Objective Review of Television's Most Popular Reality Show: Burn The Fat Blog

The Biggest Loser Pros And Cons: An In-Depth Objective Review of Television’s Most Popular Reality Show

Tom Venuto

The Biggest Loser – a reality show which is essentially a race to see who can lose weight the fastest - is one of the most popular in Television history. I’ve known about The Biggest Loser since it debuted in 2005 because people ask me all the time what I think of the program and of course, the burning question: “How do they lose so much weight?”

Until now, I’ve only seen video clips, browsed forum threads and read news about the show. To give informed answers to questions in the future, I finally wanted to see first-hand what this was really all about. So I sat through the entire two-hour 8th season premiere on September 15th.
Despite its worldwide popularity, The Biggest Loser is controversial and responses to the show are highly polarized. Most viewers seem to be either die-hard loyal fans who defend the show tooth and nail or critics who loathe the program to the point of disgust or outrage. Most fitness professionals and personal trainers dislike the show, mainly due to what they say is inappropriate training program design and extreme (teetering on dangerous) overtraining. The mixed reviews for the show aren’t surprising because The Biggest Loser clearly has pros and cons. Having finally watched a full episode, it reinforced my previous belief that the cons outweigh the pros. But in any complete and objective review, it’s only fair to show both sides, so here they are:
BIGGEST LOSER PROS

The Power of Accountability

Accountability is one of the most powerful motivational forces. The producers of The Biggest Loser have set up the conditions and environment with so much accountability, it’s impossible for contestants not to lose weight. This program uses all four levels of accountability which I have discussed in previous blogs: (1) accountability to self, (2) accountability to a partner, (3) accountability to a group, and (4) accountability to the public.

The Spirit of Competition
The most impressive and dramatic body, health and fitness transformations I’ve ever seen have come as a result of competition. You can count me as one of them. I’ve competed in natural bodybuilding more than two dozen times. Why do I still do it after all these years? Because competition is motivating and competition brings out the best performances. I’m in shape all year round, but I’ve always hit my best shape – PEAK condition - for competition. An organized event with rewards gives people a goal and helps them get moving and give it their best. Although there are downsides to the way the Biggest Loser competition is judged, a healthy competition is a good thing in my book.
The drive of emotions
The producers of The Biggest Loser have done a meticulous job with contestant selection by finding individuals with touching life stories (as contrived as they may be, to encourage made-for TV drama ranging from romance to backstabbing). It’s Television, so they need storylines and human interest and there’s no shortage of that here. I’m sure many viewers have to break out the Kleenex – it’s a real tear jerker that pulls at the heart strings. If this program stirs up some emotions in viewers that stimulate them to get up off the couch and start a health and fitness program, then that’s a good thing. People are not inspired to action with logic, they are driven to action with emotion and only later justify their decisions and actions with logic.
Hope and inspiration
Having inspirational role models moves people from “What’s the use; I’ve tried everything and nothing will ever work for me” to, “If they can do it, I can do it.” I’m tempted to say that these are not the right role models for the public and I do NOT recommend anyone at home try to duplicate what these contestants are doing. However, I can see the value of extreme role models purely for inspiration. When a 65 year old runs a 135 mile ultramarathon, it makes a 20 or 30-something runner ask, “What’s stopping me from running a paltry 26.2 miles?” If an amputee sprints around a track on prosthetic legs, it makes sedentary able-bodied people, say, “What’s my excuse?” When a 425 pound person loses half his bodyweight, someone with only 40 pounds of excess fat says, “What’s stopping me?” Seeing those who have already done it forces you to answer, “Nothing was stopping me but my own excuses and limiting beliefs. Now I see it’s not hopeless… it’s possible!”
The reality of hard work

Unlike most weight loss programs which promise results without effort, The Biggest Loser shows the contestants busting their butts. Arguably the biggest loser goes too far, replete with brutal training montages and plenty of crying, screaming, puking and falling down. That’s television for you.

Fitness for life can be enjoyable and even become part of your fun and recreation time. But to think that spectacular and quick results can be achieved without incredibly hard work is naïve. For above average results, it takes an above average effort. For mind blowing results, it takes a mind blowing effort. With effort and hard work, amazing transformations can happen.

BIGGEST LOSER CONS

The Biggest Loser is judged on weight loss, not body composition.
There is no doubt that contestants are losing huge amounts of fat – far above the average, which is usually 1-2 pounds per week. Even obese individuals rarely lose more than 3 pounds of pure fat per week consistently in a real world situation. The results on the show – often 10 pounds a week with 20-25 not uncommon for first and last week - should not be surprising when you calculate the massive caloric deficit achieved from 4-6 hours of daily training and physical activity, combined with low calorie dieting. What many fans seem to ignore is that weight loss is not the same as fat loss. Body weight includes muscle, bones, internal organs, water, glycogen and don’t forget the contents of the digestive tract. The weight loss on The Biggest Loser is deceiving. Much of the loss is water. Many contestants may be losing muscle and other lean tissue. The solution would be simple: judge the competition on body composition, not body weight. Body fat testing is admittedly prone to error, but with the big budget of this show, there’s no reason they couldn’t use gold standard testing methods such as hydrostatic weighing or DEXA scans. They used a Bod Pod in the last episode, but the contest wasn’t judged on the results of those tests (it was more like, “look how fat you are!”) What’s most alarming to me is that because the show is judged on weight loss, not body composition, contestants are penalized for gaining muscle and actually rewarded for losing muscle. Think about that one for a while.
Rapid weight loss competition encourages physically dangerous practices
The network, the trainers and other supporters of the show say they do not promote or endorse drugs or any unhealthy methods of weight loss. Official statements notwithstanding, the inherent nature of the show promotes dangerous behavior. Listen to what Biggest Loser season one winner Ryan Benson had to say on his myspace blog:
“I wanted to win so bad that the last ten days before the final weigh-in I didn’t eat one piece of solid food! If you’ve heard of “The Master Cleanse” that’s what I did. Its basically drinking lemonade made with water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. The rules of the show said we couldn’t use any weight-loss drugs, well I didn’t take any drugs, I just starved myself! Twenty-four hours before the final weigh-in I stopped putting ANYTHING in my body, liquid or solid, then I started using some old high school wrestling tricks. I wore a rubber suit while jogging on the treadmill, and then spent a lot of time in the steam room. In the final 24 hours I probably dropped 10-13 lbs in just pure water weight. By the time of the final weigh-in I was peeing blood.
Was this healthy? Heck no! My wife wanted to kill me if I didn’t do it to myself first. But I was in a different place, I knew winning the show could put us in a better place financially and I was willing to do some crazy stuff. All this torture I put myself through has had no lasting effects on me (that I know of) and at the time it was sort of a fun adventure for me – but I am sure it reeked havoc on my system. In the five days after the show was over I gained about 32 lbs. Not from eating, just from getting my system back to normal (mostly re-hydrating myself). So in five days I was back up to 240 – crazy!”
It’s unknown whether any Biggest Loser contestants have taken diuretics (they’re not allowed, but then again Major League baseball players aren’t allowed to take roids either). The greater the rewards and monetary incentives, the greater the willingness to cheat. One thing that’s clear is that even non-drug manipulation of water and electrolyte balance is incredibly dangerous. Would you trade $250,000 for a kidney?

The media often sensationalizes anabolic steroids as a big problem in sports and performance enhancement. What’s been underplayed is another drug used (un-medically supervised) by athletes to shed water and make weight classes – diuretics. It’s not the steroids, but the diuretics, combined with extreme dieting, which have resulted in more confirmed deaths, coronary events, kidney problems and emergency room visits.
Benson wasn’t alone. Kai Hibbard (season 3) answered a question about this on her my space blog:
Q: I’m curious on just how much did you all dehydrate yourselves before the BIG WEIGH IN?

A: I dehydrated off 19 pounds in the last two weeks before the BIG weigh in. I stopped eating solid food after eating only protein and asparagus (a diuretic) then I had two colonics and spent the night before the weigh in and out of a sauna. there really was no “diet” the day of the weigh in, we weigh in as dehydrated as possible on empty stomachs after 2 hour workouts in the morning.
As with Benson, Hibbard’s final week weight came flying back:
“I actually put on about 31 pounds in two weeks. After my body had a chance to stabilize I spent all last year hovering between 159 and 175, I fight everyday to find some stability.”

The Biggest Loser pushes overtraining to the point of high injury risk
On the first season 8 episode, just minutes after getting off the bus, contestants faced the first workout “challenge.” The group of morbidly obese contestants (weighing up to 460 pounds), were instructed to take a 1 mile run down the beach. It was NOT a go at your own pace type of thing, it was a RACE with a prize for the winner. One of them collapsed just short of the finish line, at first looking dehydrated and fatigued and then progressing into looking seriously ill, incoherent and unconscious. She was flown by medivac chopper to the hospital. The hospitalization was weaved into the drama of the episode, but alarmingly trivialized. It was not the first time. Contestants from previous seasons have also been admitted to the hospital and one suffered a stress fracture. Later during the workout, contestants were shown climbing a Jacob’s ladder, pushing sleds, doing intense cardio and calisthenics, lifting weights and performing plyometrics. These did not look like beginner-level workouts and the form on some of the exercises was sloppy enough to make a professional strength and conditioning coach cringe. Before the show (off camera), the contestants took a stress test to screen out people who might be at risk for a heart attack, and no doubt, they all signed airtight liability releases. There was also a disclaimer on the screen for the viewing audience. But aside from that, there seemed to be a disturbing absence of proper risk warnings in light of the physical tasks they were asked to perform. There was also no mention that 4-6 hours of training per day for weight loss is gross overtraining, almost certain to bring overuse injuries, and something that no one at home should EVER try to emulate, even if they could.
The Biggest Loser has no relevance to real world situations
The producers of The Biggest Loser have created the perfect environment for success. Contestants have personal trainers, nutritionists, group support, accountability, a national audience, and the biggest carrot imaginable – a prize of $250,000 and a potential platform to launch a motivational speaking or fitness career. The participants move out of their homes and onto The Biggest Loser “Ranch” where they have no job other than losing weight. There are no kids to worry about, no work, no social obligations, no chores, nothing – just working out and dieting. This is a totally artificial and controlled environment with no relevance to the average person. In the real world, people who work out 4-6 hours a day for weight loss are not called inspirational and dedicated, they are called obsessive-compulsive or exercise anorexics. Shouldn’t contestants (and viewers) be taught to exercise in a way that fits into a normal person’s daily life, between work, family and social obligations? Achieving health and fitness as part of total life balance is probably one of the biggest missing pieces in the obesity crisis, yet you won’t find solutions for that challenge on The Biggest Loser.
Rough Cut Clip - Weigh In Distortion from Steve Yu on Vimeo.

[special thanks to Steve Yu, producer of INSPIRED THE MOVIE for the video clip]

The Biggest Loser trainers are walking a fine line between tough love and abuse
I’ve listened to an interview or two with Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels and she was motivating, informative and seemed like a good spokesperson for fitness. That’s why I was shocked by her yelling profanities in the face of the contestants. She was dropping F-bomb after F-bomb. I believe strongly that a good coach sometimes has to get in a client’s face and be very tough. People are motivated by different styles of leadership and coaching, but in general, most people need to be pushed, not coddled, out of their comfort zones and they will always perform beyond what they believed they could accomplish when they are put under pressure. Read the biographies of some of the great coaches like Vince Lombardi. Read about the great military leaders like General Patton. You’ll see they were not soft on their players or troops. It was tough love. It was necessary for victory. It was not however, disrespectful, rude, humiliating or unprofessional (when Patton crossed the line, he was reprimanded… watch the movie, it’s a classic). Then again, this was television and Jillian makes for good TV, I‘ll give you that.
On The Biggest Loser, normal rates of weight loss are penalized and frowned on as failure

One of my first exposures to this show was a video clip of the weigh ins, which I saw a couple years ago. A blue team member lost 20 pounds in one week. Mouths were open, gasps were heard, jaws were hitting the floor, followed by congratulations and applause.
When the other blue teammate stepped on the scale and registered “only” an 8 pound loss, the congratulations quickly faded, heads were shaking, facial expressions turned to contempt and blue team member number two sulked off in shame because it appeared as if she did something horribly wrong and that only one member of the team pulled her weight .
When an 8 pound weight loss is seen as a failure, imagine what viewers at home will think about a perfectly normal 1-2 pound weekly weight loss.

The Biggest Loser encourages unrealistic weight loss expectations
Surely any clear-thinking person realizes The Biggest Loser is a contest and at home they are NOT going to drop 25 pounds their first week and 8-10 pounds every week after that. However, more and more people are posting on forums online and asking their trainers why they “only” lost 3-5 pounds their first week or why they can’t lose more than 2 pounds per week. When people get discouraged with perfectly reasonable weight loss, it makes our job as fitness professionals and health educators much harder. This is a big reason why most trainers hate this show. Do you know how difficult it is to persuade a Biggest Loser fan that 3 pounds per week is exceptionally good fat loss? A 3 pound weekly weight loss of pure fat is outstanding and above average, but it’s more difficult than ever today to get people to accept slow and steady weight loss as a best practice for healthy, maintainable results. Is it fair to pin the blame on one reality TV show? Well, not entirely. We can pin blame on a combination of human nature and the approach of the weight loss industry at large, including diet program, pill and supplement advertising, especially those which show “results not typical” (or even phony) before and after pictures. But reality TV courtesy of The Biggest Loser is certainly one of the culprits. The Biggest Loser teaches you absolutely nothing about setting realistic goals. It actually encourages the opposite.
The Biggest Loser does not teach real-world lifestyle strategies
I haven’t watched enough of the show to assess whether the participants are given any kind of nutrition, exercise and health education that they can take home with them and make a part of their lifestyles for the long term. Even if the contestants get psychological counseling, fitness education, motivational tools and time with dieticians - off camera or on - the structure of the competition leads me to think it is all for naught. Participants and viewers are not learning about nutrition and training as a lifestyle, because the inherent nature of the show only teaches them how to crash diet, crash exercise and achieve short-term weight loss. In particular, where is the emphasis on nutrition? I guess there’s not much time to film nutrition education when 45 minutes of the show is spent on the high drama of the weigh-in and elimination round.
The Biggest Loser doesn’t focus on lifelong maintenance
Weight loss is easy. Whether you lose 1-2 pounds a week or 10 pounds a week, either way, maintenance is going to be the true challenge. A study from Oxford showed that 80% of weight losers will gain all the weight back within 3-5 years. A report from the National Weight Control Registry suggested that this relapse rate could be as high as 95%. It’s not a foregone conclusion that you’ll regain weight after a large and or rapid weight loss. Some can keep it off. Most won’t, and if you lose weight rapidly, the odds are against you. Without a plan for maintenance, the odds are close to nil. Where is the focus in The Biggest Loser on teaching contestants maintenance strategies for keeping the weight off after they get back into the real world?
“The Biggest Loser”: Much worse than a clever name
I have one final con; more of a personal pet peeve, really. I despise the name of the show. No one wants to be a loser. Anyone who sets a goal and achieves it is a winner, but in this show, if you win, you’re a loser. The words “lose” and “loser” should be stricken from your vocabulary. Release, shed, discard, incinerate or burn the fat, but don’t lose it and for your own sake, please don’t call yourself a loser. “But it’s just semantics, Tom.” Precisely, and the hidden meanings of words, names and labels carry great power. They can shape a person’s identity, affect self-esteem and influence behavior.
Conclusion

As a show so widely broadcast and publicized, which spotlights the worldwide obesity problem and encourages people to do something about it, The Biggest Loser could have been something great. But it falls short in many areas. There are unredeemable flaws weaved into the very fabric of the show.
The trainers and physicians get on their soapboxes and tell the contestants how sick they are. But is this show really about health? Depending on how you approach it, getting skinny doesn’t always mean getting healthy – physically or psychologically. Not only do the cons outweigh the pros, if you go back and look at my list of positive qualities in the show, you can find every one of them somewhere else in a more healthy context. It’s important to have role models, but this show is no model for physically and emotionally healthy weight loss. The Biggest Loser is just Television, where the bottom line is ratings and sponsors. If you can, draw some inspiration from the show, but not your education. If you watch, then please recognize this show for what it is – entertainment; show business. Nothing more. nothing less. Tom Venuto, author of:
Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle & The Body Fat Solution
Founder & CEO,
Burn The Fat Inner Circle

About Tom

Tom Venuto is a fat loss expert, lifetime natural (steroid-free) bodybuilder, certified personal trainer, freelance writer, and author of the #1 best selling diet e-book, Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle: Fat-Burning Secrets of The World’s Best Bodybuilders & Fitness Models( e-book) and The Body Fat Solution (Hardcover, Avery/Penguin Books). Tom is also the founder and CEO of the Internet’s premier fat loss support community, the: Burn The Fat Inner Circle.

Related Articles:
Listen to Maintainers, Not To Losers
www.burnthefatblog.com/archives/2007/06/listen_to_maintainers_not_losers
The 2 Pounds Per Week Rule And How To Burn Fat Faster
www.burnthefatblog.com/archives/2009/02/the_2_pounds_per_week_rule_and.php
Accountability: The most powerful motivational force
www.burnthefatblog.com/archives/2009/04/the_motivational_force_a_syste.php

18 September, 2009 posted in Weight Loss

Comments

Hi Tom,
Great review. I'm a fan of the show but also agree with everything you have said. I've listened to Jillian's podcasts and I do believe she would agree with you also.

So, are you going to watch the rest of the season?

Beth

Posted by: Beth Melton | September 18, 2009 2:09 PM

Great review Tom. You really hit the nail on the head with "draw inspiration, not education".

Posted by: Brian Rickerson | September 18, 2009 2:43 PM

Hey Tom,

As someone who spent her most formative years overtraining in the gym, cheerleading, and finally spending almost 7 years trapped in an eating disorder, I applaud your comments.

I have been TOTALLY free from weight and compulsive eating issues for 20 years now, and I work out because it feels good, but seeing people applauded for the very kind of behavior that nearly ruined my life makes me cringe.

It took studying "naturally lean" people and adopting their realistic, non-obsessive lifestyle to change my thinking and life. Then again, there's no exciting reality-tv in that!

Keep up the great posts.

Gina

Posted by: Gina Parris | September 18, 2009 2:48 PM

I totally agree with your review. I feel the show is sensationalized and not healthy. I don't know of anyone that could follow this program after the show and the fact that the contestants were dehydrating themselves the night before the final weigh in is very irresponsible. I also disliked the personal trainers. Overall, I think it's a garbage relaity show that exploits obese people.

Posted by: Linda | September 18, 2009 2:59 PM

I really enjoyed your review. I got into TBL last year during the final episodes. As someone with only about 15lbs to lose, I was actually inspired by Jillian Michaels. I find myself on the treadmill saying "Jillian would call me pathetic if I can't do 30 minutes".

I have also read several interviews in which Jillian herself does not really agree with how the show works. She has often debated not returning, but continues to do so because after all is said and done, so many people start their own weightloss challenges because of the show. And that is worth it to her.

Posted by: Jenna | September 18, 2009 3:02 PM

Good write-up, and I think you've gone an excellent job of addressing the pros and cons of the show in a fair way.

The only comment I would question is where you ask "Where is the focus in The Biggest Loser on teaching contestants maintenance strategies for keeping the weight off after they get back into the real world?"

I actually think they do spend some significant time in this area, with involved instruction on meal selection and preparation, and addressing the various challenges that will face the contestants on their return to the outside world. This typically results in an "outside" challenge where the contestants are taken off the ranch for a week and returned to their families to see how they are able to do on their own, and then again for the finalists when they leave the filming and then return several weeks (I don't recall how many) later for the finale. I also think it is fair to assume that there is a lot of education that is deemed boring by the producers. This may create some negative traits in the show for the viewers that are not issues for the participants.

Also, you make a statement about the studies showing that 80% (and possibly up to 95%) of individuals who lose weight gain it back, and criticize the program for not focusing on long-term maintenance of the loss, however the grounds for this are not clear. You would need to provide statistical data showing that after some period of time, 80% (or 95%) of contestants regained the weight (no benefit of the program), >80% of contestants regained the weight (adverse effect), or
That said, these are minor points in what is (as usual) another excellent post you've given us.

Thanks!

Posted by: Sean | September 18, 2009 3:04 PM

Sean, thanks for your post.

Look up the National weight control registry, the organization which tracks maintainers. compare the data on what maintainers do to the approach the biggest loser show is taking, and you will see why someone who uses an unsustainable "biggest loser" approach will be more likely to regain the weight.

Its not just the education for doing it on your own and preparation of a maintenance strategy that influences the odds of maintenance success, it is the approach used to take off the weight in the first place. Rapid weight loss and quick fix approaches correlate very highlywith relapse and weight regain.

By all rights, former contestants on the show could have higher chances of maintenance success if they put themselves in a position of continued accountability such as speaking, public appearances and so on, but I d be surprised if that were the case. Id bet that the most of the ones who slip out of the public eye back into private life will relapse.

Someone posted a link in the last blog post to a "where are they now" article, but it followed up on only about half the winners and not the whole pack of contestants.

I would love to know how ALL the former contestants are doing and what the relapse rate is. Regardless of whether its better or worse than average, the approach doesnt favor long term maintenance and I saw no indication that a maintenance plan was in place. Im not even sure if the contestants have any idea just how much their energy needs and metabolism have changed after a massive weight loss.

cheers

tom

Posted by: tom venuto | September 18, 2009 3:08 PM

"I agree with everything you said, despite the fact that I am still a fan of the show. However, I've always seen it as a contest and not translateable into real life. It inspires me to keep at my own fitness journey, but I refrain from making unrealistic expectations of myself because of what's on the television. I can see how others, who haven't studied health and fitness thoroughly might make those kind of errors in thinking from watching the show though!"

Posted by: randi | September 18, 2009 3:24 PM

Thanks for the great review Tom! I absolutely loved that you wrote down the pros and cons. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

No matter how much good TV that show maybe for ratings and getting you in front of the boob tube, I still see it as dangerous and irresponsible. Then again, no one is holding the proverbial gun to the contestant's head. In today's world, it's so easy to get information so if the person doesn't attempt to get information before embarking on such a program, then so be it, it's their own fault and problem! Hopefully though, most people know better.

Posted by: Marylin Sanchez | September 18, 2009 3:52 PM

Amazing post! Thank you so much for putting it up! As someone who has dropped over 100 lbs through lifestyle change (which took a while), I cringe every time my friends ask me how they can drop 5 lbs in a week. And when I tell them that they cannot do so without damaging their health, "Biggest Loser" card is pulled! What does that show have anything to do with real life? NOTHING!

Posted by: x-minx-x | September 18, 2009 4:33 PM

Great review, Tom. I am a part-time trainer at the local gym. I've used your method on myself when I was fat a few years ago. I use your methods now on my clients who are fat.

I watched the show for the first time. I was shaking my head for the same exact reasons you have outlined.

Posted by: Joel from Pennsylvania | September 18, 2009 4:40 PM

Thanks for this article! I have only seen the show a couple of times, but I agree with you on all points...it's very unhealthy and it feeds into peoples' "instant gratification" issues, which are developing into a much bigger problem in society, every day. People who want to lose weight want it gone RIGHT NOW...they don't want to hear 2-3 pounds a week and they definitely don't want to hear "permanent lifestyle changes." Unfortunately, those are the only way to really make it stick...you have to change your entire mindset and relationship with food and exercise!

Posted by: KevinD | September 18, 2009 4:41 PM

"Great, and I mean GREAT article! I have clients who are big fans of this show and even at times they say their happy when they lose a pound or two a certain week their expressions reflect disappointment that it's not much more than that."

Posted by: Kevin | September 18, 2009 4:48 PM

Hi Tom,
Thanks for the pro insight!!
You know, as I read how the contestants ate and trained before the big weigh in, I was amazed.
Now that I've been thinking about it for a bit, if these people had tapped some of that willpower and massive drive, they wouldn't be in that situation to begin with.
Do you think there are some "plants" among the contestants??

Posted by: Steven Mincheff | September 18, 2009 5:06 PM

I watched this show once and never again after that. I find it demeaning and sensationalized to gain a viewing audience. It trivializes people's plight and puts them in untenable situations; weight loss and maintinance is a journey, not a destination.

Thanks for a very fine review. Too bad no one involved with the show is listening to you.

Posted by: LG | September 18, 2009 5:06 PM

I'm a BL fan and I have been since the beginning BUT I agree with you 100% Tom. Fortunately, because I've been a health/fitness buff for years, I know what is right and what is wrong...but there are many people out there that do not. That is where I think that the show really does people at home a disservice.

Posted by: Regina | September 18, 2009 5:09 PM

Steven Mincheff wrote:

"Now that I've been thinking about it for a bit, if these people had tapped some of that willpower and massive drive, they wouldn't be in that situation to begin with.
Do you think there are some "plants" among the contestants??"

I don't know about "plants" but I did have another con in my list that I didnt include in my final draft-- i figured that many ofthe starting weights were elevated and thus producing much more dramatic first week weight losses based on false starting weights... ie, sodium-bloated, waterlogged, huge pre-weigh in binge meals/days... the opposite of of the finale weigh in

Posted by: Tom Venuto | September 18, 2009 5:11 PM

Nice Tom. Exactly the right analysis. I will be incorporating these points into conversations with my kids (who love the show).

Posted by: Darrin | September 18, 2009 5:14 PM

Excellent article. I think the show is entertaining but you hit the head on the nail when you said it is not indicative of real life weight management. Everything is so exagerated on the show that it messes up one's sense of reality.

Posted by: Chaka | September 18, 2009 5:16 PM

Tom,

Totally agree!

Posted by: Mike G | September 18, 2009 5:38 PM

Dear Tom - I completely agree with your assessment that these contestants on Biggest Loser are verbally and physically assaulted. I was particularly dissappointed when Jillian Michaels screamed at the female contestant who had left the exercise room tho go aoutside and regroup. When she returned on her own, Jillian should have just started where they left off, without the tirade. I often get down on myself for not losing 5 lbs in a week, which created the situation of gaining/losing the same 10-15 lbs for the last 15 years of my life. Thanks for the blog post, will regroup -again-Sunday and see if I can make a positive change.

Posted by: Kara | September 18, 2009 5:40 PM

I have watched The Biggest Loser for the past few seasons mainly because my girlfriend loves the show. :)

I believe there is substantial nutrtional and lifestyle education that happens, though you have to watch it a lot to see the brief glimpses. They have recipe books out that are pretty good and most of the recipes have come from the contestants themselves. The recipes would be in the ballpark of what Tom recommends nutritionally and dietarily. They also do some form of counseling but I'm not sure how extensive that is.

One other "pro" I would add would be that the show demonstrates that you can fall off the bandwagon and get back on. As mentioned, there are episodes where contenstants go on prize vacations/excursions while still on the show. They often do some unwise eating and find out how easy all their hard work is undone. They have to start working again and I think it is a valuable lesson for the contestants.

I do wish they'd focus more on the hard work aspect and the insane amounts of exercise they do and the fact that this *is* their full-time job.

I can't agree more that a test of body composition would be far, far superior and probably much harder to game since water weight is "lean" weight.

Overall, I wouldn't watch the show myself but my GF likes it and it is mildly entertaining. I wish she would use the BFFM program because she is about 60lbs overweight! Which brings up the final irony: she likes to eat buttery popcorn while watching the show!

Posted by: Keven | September 18, 2009 5:58 PM

I'm a personal trainer that happens to be a fan of the biggest loser. I do agree with most of what you say though, Tom. The ugly reality though is that if the show tried to live up to the ideals of what it could be, it probably would have been cancelled already for low ratings. For a show to last on a major network it has to pull huge ratings and continue to change and push the envelope more. The show does that and continues to survive. I blame the producers, not the trainers, or other professionals on the show. You do have to give credit where it is due though, most of the contestants not only lose a lot of weight and body fat, but also get off many prescription medications, and improve many of their other health indicators as well.

Enjoy it for inspiration and entertainment.

Posted by: Darren | September 18, 2009 6:19 PM

Well written article as usual, Tom!
I like the Times Magazine idea for "The Biggest Maintainer" show - THAT would be interesting.

Posted by: Lilla | September 18, 2009 6:34 PM

Tom, I love you. Thanks for saying what needed to be said. I don't watch any reality tv at all, and this is why.

Posted by: Deb | September 18, 2009 8:20 PM

Tom,
While I found the majority of your article to be right on target, I somewhat disagree with what you call a normal weight loss. While realizing that for most "size normal" folks, a 1-2 pound per week loss is outstanding and the safest way to lose weight.

However, when you're very obese as I am, and most of the others on this show, I don't think it's strange to have such large numbers. As a 489 lb. individual, I just started changing my eating habits (2000 cals) and doing cardio (30-45 min a day, 5 times a week) & dropped 17 lbs. the first week.

I can tell you that it definitely seems as if the language on the show gets worse every season & I wish that would change. I also thought that the contestants doing a race on the first day, especially against someone who had been a previous contestant & had been training for 12+ weeks was a little unfair, but I also get that they want them to see where they started verses where they finish.

I like the show & I've gotten a lot of good info from it. Does it have negatives?? Sure, but I think overall it's motivated a lot of people to attempt to change their lives.

Posted by: Tarron Coalson | September 18, 2009 8:25 PM

Tom, Thank you and I just love your philosophy...I am a fan of the show, I am also an online member of their website. The website is different from the show, It has a much healthier approach to weight loss. I draw my inspiration from the show in the ways you said, but I know that it is TV and the bottom lines are very clear. I am recovering from a major surgery and will be unable to exercise like I want, but when I am back to 100%, you can be sure that it is your program I will be following, as my desire is to be Healthy and fit and not just SKINNY and some vanity size... I desire to be an athlete.. Thanks for all you do, you are awesome!!

Posted by: Lisa | September 18, 2009 8:49 PM

"Plants"??? Common ladies and gentlemen! 450 lb "plants"? OK, even if they drop 20lb of weight they gained on purpose in one week , the overall start weight is horrific. If there was no financial prize, no one would participate in a show like that. But then again, what people would not do for being on TV. Pure exploitation.

Posted by: Galina | September 18, 2009 10:21 PM

Tarron Coalson wrote:

"While I found the majority of your article to be right on target, I somewhat disagree with what you call a normal weight loss. While realizing that for most "size normal" folks, a 1-2 pound per week loss is outstanding and the safest way to lose weight. However, when you're very obese as I am, and most of the others on this show, I don't think it's strange to have such large numbers. As a 489 lb. individual, I just started changing my eating habits (2000 cals) and doing cardio (30-45 min a day, 5 times a week) & dropped 17 lbs. the first week."

Youre 100% correct that obese individuals can and will (safely) lose more weight. The current recommendation you will see in my book and recent articles is not "2 lbs per week" across the board for everyone, its 1-2 lbs per week or up to 1% of total bodyweight. That would mean 4.5 to 5.0 lbs per week of weight loss would be perfectly normal for someone weighing 489 lbs.

First week weight loss is never indicative of ongoing weight loss, once that initial water and glycogen weight loss occurs. If you lost more than 4-5 lbs a week each subsequent week, then id want to see your body composition results. If you lost 10 lbs each subsequent week and body comp tests showed that you lost 5 lbs a of fat and 5 lbs of muscle tissue, wouldnt it have been better to just lose the 5 lbs of fat?

Overweight have faster, not slower metabolisms, ie MUCH higher calorie expenditures to support the larger body and cost of movement, therefore overweight people can create MUCH larger caloric deficits, even with caloric restriction alone.

example: a man 5' 9" tall weighing 489 lbs will have a basal metabolic rate of about 3800 calories!! maintenance level will be about 5800 calories a day, at least theoretically, according to standard calorie forumulas such as katch mcardles or harris benedicts. If you cut calories to 2000, then on paper you have a 3800 calorie deficit, which would produce more than a pound of fat loss a day! Granted, I dont think I trust the theoretical calculations, but even if your total daily calorie expenditure is "only" 4000 a day, thats STILL a daily deficit of 2000 calories per day if youre only eating 2000 a day, for a weekly weight loss of 4 lbs per week - darn close to my 1% a week figure.

Now lets plug ME into the formula. At the moment Im about 185 lbs. I need to be 176 to make middleweights for my next bodybuilding competition, so yes i DO need to lose weight. at my weight, my BMR is only 1800 a day. My calorie expenditure, being very active is about 3200 calories a day at the moment. If I follow your diet of 2000 calories, I only get a 1200 calorie per day deficit for an (on paper) weekly weight loss of 2.4 lbs per week. Because Im concerned with muscle retention, I generally do a more conservative deficit and cut on about 2500 calories a day, with a high calorie day at maintenance ever 4th day --- voila, that gives me about 1 to 1.5 lbs of fat loss per week.

Indeed, there are VERY big differences in fat loss and weight loss for already lean and overweight indidivuals and weekly weight loss recommendations should be customized

One last note, as you get leaner and lighter your weight loss will slow down for a variety of reasons; If a person continues to expect rapid rates of weight loss after dropping from 480 lbs to 400 to 300 to 250, they will end up getting disappointed and discouraged.

Id be pleased to hear about your continued success... drop me an email in a few months.

cheers!

Posted by: Tom Venuto | September 18, 2009 11:40 PM

Hi,

Just a quick note....

1 week in the house is between 10-21 days so really the "dramatic" weight loss is not that dramatic. I got this info from a freind who talked to a former contestant. They don't really know when their weigh-in day is so to dyhydrate themselves days before the weigh is in counter-productive.

The networks want to make it seem more intense than it really is but they are there around 6 months, a far cry from the 8 weeks or so that they lead us to believe.

Posted by: Evelyn | September 19, 2009 1:24 AM

Once again, this is an excellent article and I loved reading it. Is it fair to say we'd all been wondering about these methods to create stunning change? And while stunning, it's not lasting or maintainable, or duplicable. Thanks for giving us the complete information, Tom. While lifestyle change takes longer it's a beautiful, lasting result that I'm thrilled with! And excited about!

Posted by: KM | September 19, 2009 4:02 AM

Hi, Tom,
I haven't seen the show (not yet on the TV in Europe, sure it'll be addopted soon). I have only read about the conditions and at that time I thought that it was another media pitfall.
I appreciate very much your sound analysis. Thank you for promoting common sense guidance for how to change body composition and achieve a healthy style of life.

Posted by: Poli | September 19, 2009 5:52 AM

I feel like someone is going to die while taping that show before the network pulls the plug on them.... Jillian's tactics pure training sacrilege!

Posted by: Susan | September 19, 2009 6:06 AM

Mr.Venuto:

Excellent comments! You definitely hit the nail on the head. I didn't see it before, but I definitely see it now. Unrealistic and unhealthy weight loss.
I watch the show myself faithfully. The show definitely has contestants on there that pull on your "heart strings" and yes, I found myself saying "If they can do it, then so can I." And I found that to be motivating. I don't have to lose anywhere near as much as they do, and I do know that 1-2 pounds a week in weight loss is healthy & proper, but in spite of my knowledge and in comparison, my victories each week eventually became nothing to celebrate.
Thanks for the wake-up! I have BFFM, I love it and I love your posts! Thanks for keeping it real!

Posted by: Tammy McDermott | September 19, 2009 6:44 AM

Respectfully, watching one episode is not necessarily enough to do an in-depth review. I have watched every season, so for good or ill, I know the show well...

The first season, they DID look at percentage of fat / muscle rather than just weight loss. I believe they gave this up for two reasons:

- it was complicated, and
- the order rarely changed

If you were the most muscular person one week, that tends not to vary. The same guy kept winning. But with weight loss, the results can fluctuate a lot, adding the necessary suspense. (I'm not saying this was the right choice.)

They spend a fair bit of time on nutrition. Contestants are expected (and challenged) to correctly guess the number of calories in various dishes. Usually at least one episode centers around them preparing healthy meals and getting tips from chefs. Bob and Jillian are in the kitchen with them a lot showing them what to do. And they always tell the contestants that they MUST keep eating to fuel the exercise, not starve themselves. There is always one contestant who tries this, and the trainers complain that it doesn't work. So I honestly don't think the show can be said to promote crash dieting.

Jillian's cursing has gotten worse, undoubtedly fueled by ratings. She does, however, focus on the psychological causes of each person's overeating.

I am disturbed by the time compression aspect, which I have heard about before. They should be up front about it -- it would not hurt the show's drama, and make it more realistic.

As many have pointed out, the cookbooks and exercise manuals spun off from the show are pretty good.

For myself, now that I bike 100+ miles a week, weight has not been an issue for several years. I usually get hungry during the show and eat junk food...I had to laugh when the trainers said these obese people "are you [the audience]". No, they aren't, but I feel richer for having known them and find their transformations inspiring.

Posted by: Erica | September 19, 2009 8:00 AM

I have not watched the show but once since it has been on tv. I feel that if personal trainers really wanted to help people lose weight, they would offer more. They offer all of these books to buy and that's it. Buy this book....you will lose weight if you follow this book...here is a meal plan to follow....Come on guys....not everyone eats the same way...not everyone can go to a gym...where has humanity went???

Oh god, the mighty dollar....no one wants to help people...Watch people lose weight while you sit for 2 hours....not my idea of helping people....how about a tv show that shows you how to do these exercises like it use to be....alternate the show with meal plans...talk to people...I would much rather lose weight the healthy way...I work 6 days a week and would love to work out with my daughters every evening or have them help me prepare a meal that we can all enjoy....How many people like fish or seafood?...Not alot....I love to exercise...I feel better about myself when I do...Help the obese children in the United States...

Posted by: Karen | September 19, 2009 8:11 AM

Tom,

As always you did a great job on this post.

I am a long time personal trainer. As a fitness professional this show definitely make my job tougher.

While the show is very entertaining...I have watched it several times, it is absolutely not even close to realistic, NOT EVEN CLOSE!

In my online weight loss program and my work in the gym I have to dedicate much of my time to setting realistic expectations and teaching why 1-2 pounds of fat loss per week is a great achievement.

So for me the "cons" far "outweigh" the "pros".

Not to mention the fact that I would get fired from the gym if I treated my clients that way.

Jason Chiero, CPT

Posted by: Jason | September 19, 2009 9:05 AM

Tom, thanks so much for the great review. I am a fan of the show, but I know that the results are definitly not typical. I use it for motivation knowing I could like like any one of the contestants if I let myself go and give up on any idea of healthy living. I know if a 350 pound person can summon any strenth at all to get out and move wether it be walking, running, or whatever, it takes away every excuse I give myself for not doing those things.
I downloaded your book 'Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle' and have read it many times. It has helped me tremendously over the years. I really appreciate your 'common sense' about weight loss. Thanks again, and keep up the good work in educating people like me about the 'Right Way to be a Winner'.

Posted by: Ronda | September 19, 2009 9:14 AM

Tom,

Great review and truly a fair assessment of this show. My biggest personal concern about the show are the distorted illusions that this show creates (or it might be more appropriate to say delusions)

At a time when people are so in need of real world fat loss and fitness solutions, it is nice to know that you are standing up for the truth. I have been using BFFM techniques now for over 10 months and although my transformation has been slow, relative to extreme methodologies, it is real and it will be lasting. I will take that slower lifestyle transformation over being a "biggest loser", any day.

Thanks again for a wonderful article.

James

Posted by: James Murphy | September 19, 2009 9:56 AM

You say that many are losing muscle mas on this show. If you had watched it more, you would have sen that they actually gain muscle mass on the show. Typically the doctor visits halfway through the season to inform them that they have gained an average of 10 to 20 pounds of muscle.

Posted by: David Olson | September 19, 2009 9:58 AM

AMAZING .... HOW true this is ... I Can't belive it ........

thanks ......

Posted by: santhosh | September 19, 2009 10:36 AM

David Olson wrote

"You say that many are losing muscle mas on this show. If you had watched it more, you would have sen that they actually gain muscle mass on the show. Typically the doctor visits halfway through the season to inform them that they have gained an average of 10 to 20 pounds of muscle."

it IS possible to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time, under certain conditions. Excluding the possibility of steroids and muscle building drugs which is not likely here, whats most likely is the "newbie gains" (beginners muscle gain) effect.

In addition, when someone is very overweight and they begin training, even bodyweight training/calisthenics, etc, that makes for added resistance which a lighter person does not have to move around. That could stimulate muscle in a way that a lean person could not achieve. Many overweight folks, after losing weight, reveal a set of calves that would make a world class bodybuilder jealous.

Some contestants I have seen finish looking impressively muscular - the germanakos brothers arms come to mind - I have to say I certainly noticed and was duly impressed when Bill and JIm hit the double biceps!

Nevertheless, I would not believe that there is an average of 10-20 lbs of muscle gain per contestant without seeing the ACTUAL DATA from a hydrostatic or DEXA scan machine posted for each contestant throughout the show.
How did this doctor who said they gained musle measure it? If it was impedance analysis (BIA) that is suspect and even the bod pod is not fully validated in all populations yet.

Let me repeat what I said in my post: If they gain muscular bodyweight, they are penalized, if the lose muscular bodyweight, they are rewarded.

Lets call for the producers to judge the show on body composition or at least post the body composition results every week. I doubt they ever will because they lose the drama (weigh ins, large drops in weight, etc) and the results probably wont be pretty, with contestants losing lean body mass.

Well formed goals revolve around DECREASING BODY FAT and INCREASING or MAINTAINING LEAN BODY MASS. This must be part of the education process, but this message is not being emphasized on the biggest loser. Instead, the message is lose as much weight as you can, as fast as you can, at all costs.

weight loss and fat loss are NOT the same!

Posted by: tom venuto | September 19, 2009 11:33 AM

Tom,
Great post. I lie somewhere in the middle just because I think everyone deserves to have a healthy body but need help to achieve it. The methods used on the show should be taken with a grain of salt. We don't see everything so to base your program entirely off of what you see during the program would be dangerous to say the least.

Mike