In place of my usual daily food post today, I’d like to discuss some of my thoughts on the Biggest Loser.
As many of you know, I have worked as a dietitian specializing in wellness and weight management for the last 9 years. It is much more than a job to me, it is my passion to help people change their lives….a calling. I work with patients and clients on a daily basis who are struggling to lose 10, 20, 50, 100 pounds or more. Many of my patients watch the Biggest Loser. They are motivated by the contestants. Yet, sometimes they are discouraged that their “real life” weight loss doesn’t match up.
Overall, I am a huge fan of the show. I’ve seen most every season. And I think the positives far outweigh the negatives. I’d like to share a few of my Pros and Cons…
Pros:
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Bob and Jillian are great at getting to the issues behind the issues. I love when they push the contestants to face their emotional demons. Successful long term weight loss is about so much more than diet and exercise.
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I also love the fact the Bob and Jillian push each contestant beyond what they believe they can physically do. I think sometimes we all need a little push- someone else who believes in us before we are capable of believing in ourselves.
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The emphasis on the family/relationship connections that the show makes. I think it is powerful when they show how much obesity and obesity-related health concerns impact the whole family.
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The emphasis on the importance of losing weight for health. Not appearance, though that’s a nice side effect, but health. The emphasis on losing weight in order to save your life.
Cons:
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The product placements used to be a con to me, but lately, I’ve actually found them quite entertaining. And, I learned about a new Yoplait Smoothie product tonight, so it’s not all bad. (And I happen to be a fan of Jennie-O and ziploc bags).
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Game Play. For someone to sabotage their own weight loss in order to “win” is absolutely ridiculous to me. This experience is an opportunity to save your life, not just a game.
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I hate when someone gets on the scale, loses 5 pounds in one week, and bursts into tears because they didn’t lose “enough”.
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The amazingly high amounts of weight loss each week at the ranch. Even though real people know that this is an experience that can’t really be duplicated in the middle of real life, my patients are still discouraged that they don’t see the same results.
Bottom line- I have been and will continue to be a Biggest Loser fan .
If You are working on losing weight, take the good points from the show and use them as motivation. But, constantly remind yourself that it isn’t realistic to compete with the contestants in Real Life. Make the daily behavior changes that you can live with and maintain long-term. And find someone to help you face your demons, too, if you need it (just in case Jillian isn’t available).
What are your thoughts? Do you watch the show?
If you are working on your own weight loss journey, do you find the show motivating? Discouraging? Both?
Thanks for reading. Have a great night!
I don’t like the show at all. The trainers make me so mad (especially Jillian) because their methods would have the exact opposite effect on me. I would not let anyone speak to me in that way. However, it works for some people.
My biggest problem with the show is that it gives viewers false expectations like you said. I have a friend who wants to lose about 175 and he wants to do it by August because he thinks that’s a realistic goal after watching Biggest Loser. He has been trying to lose weight ever since I’ve known him, but if he’s not losing 10-15 pounds a week, he doesn’t think he’s making progress and gives up.
I haven’t seen The Biggest Loser in a while (partially because our T.V. is in a location where you really can’t watch it comfortably).
I do think that the show can be inspiring and you can truly get behind a contestant; it also provides a lot of good information and ideas. My biggest problem has always been the extreme amount of weight loss. I truly wonder if it’s healthy to lose so much weight in such a short amount of time (physically and emotionally).
I also think the extreme amounts on the show can seriously discourage some people (even though they know the show is not “real” life). Or it can make people do extreme things they can’t stick with and aren’t healthy. When I lost weight, I lost it VERY slowly ( about 1/2 pound per week). It was hard to lose weight so slowly, but I’m really glad I didn’t get discouraged and learned to make lasting changes.
I am not a regular with this show but I really find your point about breaking down when they lose 5 lbs and burst into tears interesting! I mean come on a loss is a loss!
Thanks for your comments so far.
Rachael, very good points. I agree- I would not respond well to screaming right at my face. However, as you said, I think it works for some people because it forces them to face their emotional issues. I have been very amazed at the harshness of Jillian at times, however, I have come to respect that there is a method to her madness and I don’t think it is just for shock effect, I think she is truly hoping to “break them down” in order to force them to examine their behavior patterns. I also agree that the massive amounts of weight loss on the show can give false hope to people, like your friend, who expect the same in real life. I appreciate your comments!
Andrea- great points. And, I have to say, that overall, many of my most successful patients and clients lose weight the same way you describe – about 1/2 pound a week. Often, much slower than they would like of course, but more likely to be lasting.
I completely agree. I think the pros also outweigh the cons but I think the biggest thing is unrealistic expectations. I think the overall message is good, but can definitely mislead people, if like you said, 5 pounds is considered bad or not enough.
Great post!
Yep, Angie your review is just like mine would have been (had I watched it last night). I am actually going to post this in place of my review tonight, and then post my full review later in the week (hopefully you don’t mind?) I’ll just post the link, obviously.
I have some people tell me that they don’t like how Bob and Jillian try to “dig out” the emotions of the contestants, but I agree with you, I like it, and most often it ends up really working! I think weight loss only happens when your RD or trainer doesn’t baby you. They do a good job with that.
Thanks Gina! Yes- you are welcome to link.
And, you know, I definitely don’t have the same approach with my clients as Jillian. It isn’t my personality to be so “in your face” and harsh. However, I always try to be very direct and honest. Keeping it real is important. Thanks for your comment!
I’ve been a fan of the show for many seasons, though I am getting sick of the product placements! I think it’s great that Bob and Jillian get into the deeper emotional issues, since that’s most likely what will “cure” the contestants of their poor lifestyle habits.
I wish the show encouraged losing weight over a longer period of time, too! I’ve heard of so many contestants gaining all the weight back (such as the first season’s winner) and it does seem to put that “all or nothing” mentality in their heads– when they get off the ranch, they fall back into old habits easily.
Of course, the show has to have crazy, quick results in order to keep viewers, so I don’t expect them to change. I don’t want to watch someone lose 1-2 lbs a week, either! That would be like watching paint dry! So, I guess it’s up to us viewers to adjust their own expectations of weight loss at home, and realize that if you’re not working out 8 hours a day like the contestants, you probably won’t get the same results. But who wants to work out that much in real life? I’ll stick to moderate exercise and watch the contestants on TV do the crazy stuff.
This is a really great post. I like your last “con” the most. It can be so self-defeating when you compare your weight loss to anyone else’s. Every person and every situation is different and very few people have the opportunity to go away and spend time on a ranch to dedicate themselves ENTIRELY to their body.
It’s the same problem people have when they compare themselves to a magazine cover. There’s reality and then there’s whatever realm people on the Biggest Loser and on the magazines are living in. For them, it’s real, but for most people, there’s alot more going on.
I think it’s so important that people realize that success can only be measured against what they’ve already done. Doing better each day is a worthy goal for weight loss.
I too am a “fan” of Biggest Loser. (I don’t watch it, only because I don’t really watch tv at all.) But, I do appreciate what shows like that can do in a broader sense. Obesity is a major issue in this country, and shows like that are helping people realize and hopefully be more accountable.
Great post Angie.
I go back and forth with this show. While I understand the need to push people to levels that they didn’t think they could reach, I don’t like the bullying approach that Jillian takes. (Of course, it is probably edited to make her look worse than she really is!) Last week she wouldn’t let someone stop to go to the bathroom. Give me a break. If my trainer pulled that on me, it would be the last time he saw me.
I’ve recently heard a lot of diuretic use on the show. I’m not shocked by this, but I do find it unfortunate! I want them to have an RD on the show so badly!!!