I’ve never really watched much of the Channel 10 show, “The Biggest Loser.”
However I’ve seen enough to question how it could be that a contestant who lost 13kg IN A WEEK could be berated by the trainers for not being “fair dinkum.”
Questions were raised about his effort in training, his adherence or otherwise to his eating plan and his general all round attitude.
Now it should be said, I’m talking about “Big Kev,” or – as his passport would say – Kevin, who upon entering the house weighed approximately 250kg.
This was manna from Heaven for the producers, as they were able to build up his arrival in the competition by promoting him as “The World’s Biggest Loser Contestant – EVER.”
This used to pass for entertainment in the olden days too – they were called Freak Shows.
I’m not criticizing Big Kev. Rather I’m criticizing the way in which Channel 10 and the producers have used Big Kev to boost ratings.
As he was put through his paces, he had (apparently qualified) trainers Shannan and Michelle yelling at him to “put in”. They dismissed his claims that he was sore, or that his feet hurt.
Now I only have 4 years of a Physical Education Degree, and 20+ years of fitness training behind me, but I would suggest that when a previously sedentary 250kg bloke is made to exercise at intensities that would make most of the people reading this very article huff and puff, there’s a fair chance he might get sore, or his feet may hurt.
After being vilified for a week or so, Big Kev took to the scales to demonstrate a 7 day weight loss of THIRTEEN KILOS!
Was he met with a congratulatory pat on the back?
No – again his commitment was brought into question. Obviously the trainers and producers were looking for a figure (no pun intended) that would make headlines worldwide to boost ratings and future salaries… maybe 20kg in a week? 25kg? Really what were they thinking?
I know that the Biggest Loser is not meant to reflect “real life.” I know they have medical staff on hand to tend to the inevitable health scares that crop up, but the problem is that thousands upon thousands of people – among them many teenagers – are watching this.
People who may struggle with their physical health, nutritional habits or body image, and here they have a half dressed Michelle Bridges lambasting a contestant because he only lost 13kg in a week.
To put this into context, most nutritionists recommend a healthy rate for weightloss is around 1-2kg per week. Big Kev was losing this PER DAY!
The fact that contestants are eliminated on a weekly basis because they haven’t lost enough weight only serves to further highlight that this show has no intention of genuinely addressing the health issues of “The Next Generation.”
But then a more supportive, less confrontational or sensationalized, more realistic approach to the wellbeing of kids wouldn’t get the ratings would it?
Author: Dan Haesler, he is a teacher, consultant, and speaker at the Mental Health & Wellbeing of Young People seminars He writes for the Sydney Morning Herald and blogs at http://danhaesler.com/ and tweets at @danhaesler
Thank you Dan for this insightful reflection on Biggest Loser and contestant Kevin. I totally agree with what you have written. I too could not believe the way he was treated with that weight loss reading of 13 kgs in one week. In fact I wondered what they would do if he dropped dead with the dangerous way they were pushing him. He and his mother were second top of the weight loss scale and there was no congratulations, only berating for the efforts made. I am not a regular viewer of the show but I did watch a bit of last years. The sensationalisation of the issue this year is the big difference. Weight loss seems secondary to the humiliation factor and dragging up of emotions. The sob,sob of the show is unreal!! Then the ‘counselling’ sessions from the trainers!Opening up peoples wounds and sensationalising their situation, dragging up past hurts in this context, does nothing for self esteem let alone encourage personal responsibility for ones situation, weight loss etc. True for you, it’s all about ratings! What a pity this is the best Channel 10 can do to address reality!! Let’s see more of the genuine efforts with diet and exercise, attitude that these contestants are making rather than the drivel that has been the focus so far! MKR is also another example of a show that has dissipated into one not worth watching. We have enough aggressive behaviour in society now without keeping on this show for the ratings, two who should not have been introduced in the first place! The best we can do is continue to challenge these wrong communication messages that are being sent out, especially for our young people!
Having personal experience with reality weight loss television the some of the concerns you identify are warranted but people need to recognise that all contestants on the show are aware of what they signed up for! That is that first and foremost it is a television show relying on ratings and the producers will make sure they achieve that goal every week. Given that this is the TV show’s first priority losing weight unfortunately becomes less important although a necessary component. Surely this is also a view held by the wider public given the negative media reports the show often receives and the huge amount of information out there about healthy weight loss approaches. You noted the contestant achieved the 13 kg weight loss over 7 days which is not the case. Seven days on the show can equate to two or more weeks in the lives of the contestants. You also noted contestants recieve medical support which is correct. What is probably less known is that they are very well supported whilst being on the show with psychological, physiotherapy, sports wear, massage, among other support, but this support ceases once the show finishes which makes the transition from contestant back in to their lives and families difficult. Contestants live in an alternate reality when they are on the show. They are frequently told they are now television stars which often does not transfer to their world once they leave. Sure they miss their families but everything about the show is focused on them and they don’t need to deal with the typical ups and downs experienced in day to day life which can be difficult to manage when returning to their family and lives. The contestants are not equiped to manage the public who think they know them and their families because they have watched them on the TV for the past 3 months. They are also inequiped to manage the media who have a public forum in which to express their perspectives or opinion of reality TV which is not something the contestants get to the choice to do. I don’t think the contestants would agree with being viewed as being part of a “freak show” as you put it. So while we’re all focusing on how unfair the trainers are treating the contestants or how unfair it is that the producers are focusing on ratings, there is no recognition of the immense impact on the contestants and their families once the show is over! Maybe eduacting the public that “reality” television should be viewed the same way we view a romantic film, a fairy tail or action film may help them see that it is entertainment and nowhere near real life!
Hi I feel I need to respond to your assumption The Biggest Loser is a weight loss program. First and foremost it is a money making venture. It would be bad business to lose investors money as there wouldn’t be a program. Secondly it keeps many people employed over 100 people. Thirdly it is at television show and ratings count. Lastly there are contestants employed for a period of time to participate in a weight loss competition. It is a competition and it is pushed in that direction. I know first hand as I was a contestant on the biggest loser. It is the trainers job to berate contestants because that makes good TV. It is unfortunate but it happens. You are very well looked after because they protect the talent. Without contestants there is no show. There are cameras every where and the trainers are told by producers prior to a training session on who to push and target because when there is a break down there is a break through. It makes good TV. We have a nurse that lives in the house 24/7, a doctor on call. Psychologists, podiatrist, massage therapist, physiotherapist any one you wanted they got. But when you leave you have nothing no supports just your family. I wish all contestants the best of luck and would hope that they have improved on the after care of contestants.