Biggest Loser Contestants Dying to Be Thin?

Recently, I wrote an article condemning popular NBC program "Biggest Loser" because not only is the program degrading, but because it promotes unhealthy and radical weight loss. From the very first episode anyone with an ounce of experience in the fitness profession could see that what "Biggest Loser" was promoting was unrealistic and dangerous. But because the contestants were bound by "paperwork" to remain silent this truth was hidden from the public eye. Until now...

In an interview with the CBS Early Show Kai Hibbard and her husband Jake list some of the physical and psychological ramifications she suffered during the taping of the series which continued even after the program was over. She had left the program with a "poor body image" and eating habits that were "not normal." Kai thanks her mother, sister (who are registered nurses) and husband for "staging an intervention". They helped her to see that what she was doing to herself was harmful; that mindset she gained as a result of being pressed by "Biggest Loser" producers and trainers to lose the most amount of weight possible was was detrimental to her health and well-being.

Kai also said that though "Biggest Loser" weeks were represented as such to the viewers, they were not always 7 days long. According to Kai, "Biggest Loser" weeks were nearly always more than 7 days long. She also cautioned that viewers should understand that "Biggest Loser" is not a weight loss camp that is being taped to look like a TV program. But that "Biggest Loser" is a TV program taped to look like a weight loss camp.

Shame on you, "Biggest Loser".

One would think that such an interview with such disturbing allegations would be enough to open America's eyes to the fact that they are being misled in order to sell products that simply don't work (according to the interview Biggest Loser has generated over 100 million dollars in revenue in just the past year alone). If they worked then there wouldn't be an obesity epidemic in the United States, would there?

What I found to be equally disturbing is that I found articles and comments online from Biggest Loser fans that actually dismissed Ms Hibbard's claims because "she was obviously emotionally unhealthy before she signed onto the show" and "Ms Hibbard had some positive things to say about her experiences." The fact that anyone who suffers from extreme weight issues (whether anorexia/bulimia or morbid obesity) also suffers from emotional issues is not news nor does it negate the severity of how their symptoms compromise their health. To dismiss Ms Hibbard's disturbing allegations based on the fact that she was being polite and professional is equally ridiculous. It is merely indicative of how deeply mired those people's own denial is regarding their inability to recognize how harmful their own behavior is to themselves. I also found people making comments on Ms Hibbard's Facebook page like "no pain/no gain" regarding her interview exposing the Biggest Loser. The woman's hair was falling out. How much more does she have to suffer before she reaches the "pinnacle" of health and wellness?

These comments/articles come from people who admit they are desperate to gain control over their own struggles with being over-weight. I feel badly for them but if they want to keep engaging behaviors that keep them fat while compromising their own ability to gain control over their weight and health then there is nothing that people like I can do to help them much, which makes me very sad. I suppose I'll just have to keep writing hoping that eventually the truth will make it through.

Similar content was previously published on Examiner.com