Is 'Biggest Loser' Going Too Far?

By Mike Hess Posted Dec 15th 2009 05:50PM

It seems that the girth of those hoping to shed pounds on 'The Biggest Loser' is proportional to how many people tune in, as last week's finale scored the heftiest 'Loser' ratings since 2005. Capitalizing on that ratio, 'Loser' is going even bigger with its next season, when 526 pound Michael Ventrella -- the show's largest contestant ever -- tips the scales for the show's ninth season. Prior to Ventrella's 500+ pound weigh-in, the heaviest contestant was in season eight, when Shay Sorrells began the show at 476 pounds. While 'Loser' has certainly helped save and change the lives of those who participate, does striving to help the morbidly obese become exploitation when the pound tallies keep going up and their "heaviest ever" status is used to promote the show? Or is it simply indicative of an ever-expanding America? After the jump, a slew of media experts weigh in.

Sandy Deane, Managing Editor of AOL Television: "It may seem sensationalist and overly dramatic on the surface, but I think the heart of the show is always focused on making the biggest impact in these people's lives. The heavier the contestant, the bigger the risks, successes and failures for that contestant. The people of our nation are heavier than ever before, and I think the casting of larger people each season just reflects that disturbing national trend."

Alex Blagg, Executive Editor at Celebuzz: "This is America, so bigger is always better. Why would I want to watch a 500 pound morbidly obese woman run on a treadmill towards her body image goals when I could be watching a 600 pound morbidly obese person do the same thing? By the fall season of 2012, I fully expect to see has-been soap stars shouting at 1,000-pound bed-ridden obese people about doing some sit-ups."

Emma Rosenblum, Associate Editor at New York Magazine: "On the one hand, it's great that people like Shay and Daniel (the two biggest contestants in the show's history) are getting the kind of weight loss kick start they need in order to live longer, healthier lives. But it's clear that the show is using them to up the dramatic (and visual) ante. If these people want to be on 'Loser,' with all that it entails, I say more power to them. They just have to be willing to subject themselves to those embarrassing promos –– who wants to be featured on national TV as the "heaviest contestant...EVER!" –– and also live with the knowledge that some viewers might be watching specifically to 'ohh' and 'ahh' at their impressive weight."

Matthew Greenberg, TV Writer for TrueSlant: Of course NBC and 'Biggest Loser' are exploiting the contestants. All reality programming is, at some level, based on exploitation. The genius in 'Biggest Loser' is that -- while at its base -- it's a sideshow show where the audience is invited to come and stare at the morbidly obese and their emotional issues. The show also helps its contestants better their lives, which provides emotional story lines that resonate with the audience and reduce the sleaze factor of the show. It's a sideshow you can feel good about ... By touting "our contestants are even fatter than last year!" the show runs the risk of reminding folks about the unsavory part of the equation."

Susi May, Editor at FitSugar: "While I think the show is motivational, they do seem to be going for extremes to breathe life into their concept. I am not sure if I could simply say it is OK or it not, because it is true -- these contestants are heavier. So what does that say about us as viewers? Are we truly motivated by watching people that can't walk a mile on a treadmill?"

Alex Balk, Editor of TheAwl.com: "It's a wonderful thing that American television, which has itself played a part in our national obesity epidemic, is playing a small part to help some of their viewers become less massive."

Tags: biggest loser, BiggestLoser, nbc, weight loss, WeightLoss

Comments

(97)

Wednesday 16 December

By Timination

Vote down Vote up Report this

They cruel calin them fat peple losers, them fighten words boy howdy! Wen i was a yongin my Pa sat me down on his nee and said "Boy you got yomself a mitey big belly", and i tok that to heart u hear, me Pa was a gentlman about me wait, and dar nothing beter then his doin. I up n got myself a shovel and i dig them holes for days on end until i lost me belly, and my Pa was mitey proud.

By mintrubble71

The problem is that if you hired a professional trainer they would NEVER push you as hard or expect you to do the nutty challenges that people do on this show. In real life (as opposed to "reality" TV) nobody would sign a waiver saying if they dropped dead from being overworked their family won't sue (which is what happens on these shows). If you hired a trainer and a dietitian and did everything right it would still take WAY longer to lose the weight than the people on this show. There's a good reason for that- IT'S DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY FATAL. I'm sure the network execs are just salivating, waiting for the first stroke or death. Now THAT will boost ratings!

"I wash myself with a rag on a stick".

By Phyllis

Lots of people are fat, not just chubby or stout, but seriously overweight in the US. If a few are dropping from that 300 + status .... good for them. Whatever the reason. Good for them. I don't watch "reality tv" and don't plan to start. Those who do watch ... thanks ... Not! We won't get back to anything reasonably interesting as long as you watch this crap on TV.

By Sydney

I think the show is pretty good. Especially all the tips and knowledge about weight loss that is passed onto those watching. I think it is also possible for overweight people to look at these people who have lost all that weight and think to themselves "I want to feel as good as they do. If they can do it, so can I." It is also possible for people to watch the beginning of the seasons, relate to the stories people tell, and MAYBE face the reality "That's me /my spouse/ my child / my parent in five years unless major changes are made." To maybe "scare" people into getting thinner/healthier.

By Cherokee

Alright ya fat hogs!! How about a show to see how fat can ya get?? Yeah Baby! Line em up to the slop and see who eat the most. the winner is the one who has to be cut out of THEY room!!

Hey KAT!! What is your story?? you just said "don't call them obese, it's mean", then you turn around and say it yourself!!! WAKE up it's 3:45 AM

By Willis Fraley Jr

The first thing fast people dont get fat because its always their fault, there are diseases and syndromes that can cause someone to be heavy, I am proof of that, About 12 years ago I weighed 178lbs and contracted a very rare disease that killed my pancreas and my thyroid and the hypothalmus in my brain was messed up and I went from 178 to 420lbs in less than 14 months, Insulin tore me up as well as no metabolism and now I am down to 351 by the grace of GOD but all so called fat people isnt always their faults and most fat people dont want to be fat ask any of them or me!!

By Tony D.

Maybe there trying to show the world. That it doesn't matter how fat your BUTT is if you get off your Lazy AZZ and diet and exercise then maybe you can be a productive part of sociaty. Just maybe. Did you think that if they had skinny people it would be a better show? Of course there going to have FAT people. Why you ask??? Because that's what the damn show is about.

Yes, Willis we understand that there are people with diseases. But so glad thet you reminded us. But there are also MANY that shove that Twinkie in there fat little mouths and live at McDonalds and other fast food joints. So let us hear the sob story's as you chomp on that twinkie.

By Irma J. Bradley

I like The Biggest Loser; however, I wish they would spend more time showing workout and eacting tips and less time with the crying scenes. When they start crying I go fix a sandwich.

Tuesday 29 December

By TB

I will play the cynic here. With the producers wanting to get "bigger" every season, what is to stop someone from eating their way on to the show? There may be someone out there who weighs around 350lbs, wants to get their 15 minutes of fame, knows they are not heavy enough by producer standards and over eats for a shot at next season. Overall I think it is a good show, but it is getting out of hand. I think they should also show the amount of plastic surgery required when losing that much weight. There is a lot of loose skin to deal with.

Monday 04 January

By Sher

I have always been offended by this show and refuse to watch it. I have had a weight problem all of my life, and it is NOT fun! It is also not something that I think should be shared with the world. I believe they are exploiting these people. I also just saw a blurb on T.V. about those who don't win and are just dropped by the show when they are done, and based on my own experience with diets, I'll bet they go out and gain the weight back and perhaps even more. I think that she show DISCRIMINATES against fat people! Just watch them put a bunch of black people on the show, and guarantee to turn them all white. They can promote the show by publicizing the "blackest ever" participant. That would be clearly discrimination and so is this!!! GET this show off the air NOW!!

Wednesday 06 January

By nonie

I am 100 pounds overweight. I would never get up on television and let anyone see me in what they have to wear. These people need to get psychological help before they can even begin
to lose weight. They can lose it but after the show if their problems which started them eating in the first place are not taken care of they will be back to the old ways.

Monday 21 June

By michion

if the former contestants now find that the "show" is unhealthy and lying to the public, it's probably because they didn't win the money. These people are adults who chose to try to lose weight this way , they weren't forced. Kai, now has an issue with the "show", I believe she has an issue with the fact that she could not lose the weight on her own and some how is blaming the show because she can't keep the weight off, she should find the will power within her self and really take responsibility for her actions on and off the "show", it took these "contestants" years to put that weight on and it will take the rest of their lives to keep it off.

Tuesday 22 June

By JE

First of all like someone said before you exercise and eat less = lose weight. Using food addiction term is a weakness not a disease or anything like that at all. Just like obesity/drug addiction/alcoholism is not an disease 99% of the time its a choice and a weakness or a crutch to be used. I think we should tax the people that are overweight a higher percentage since the healthcare for obesity is ridiculously out of hand.

By FCM

It is possibly to lose 10-12 pounds in one week. When I first started losing weigth my first week I lost 13 pounds but the following week I only lost 3 pounds. Your first week is mostly water weight that you're losing after that 2-3 pounds a week is about all you should safely lose. It took me almost 4 months to lose 35 pounds.

Page 5 of 5