Who is the biggest loser now?
You knew it was going to happen.
After a few seasons of The Biggest Loser, one contestant has come forward with an eating disorder that she blames on the show’s excessive exercise and diet regimen.
Yes, weight loss was recommended when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Yes, I lost 50 pounds, but it happened over the course of 18 months. Yes, I have maintained 80% of that weight loss for four years.
For someone who had previously struggled with disordered eating, losing weight safely and slowly made sense. Focusing on changing habits for a lifetime, rather than for a year, made sense. Accepting my body in spite of its imperfections at every stage of the process was of most importance.
Successful weight loss in the face of medical issues does not come from extreme diets, like the one portrayed on The Biggest Loser. Successful weight loss in the face of medical issues is not a sprint, it is a marathon.
Anyone who tells you differently is just trying to exploit for profit – whether in the form of taking your money for expensive weight loss programs or in the form of promising fame on a show like The Biggest Loser on which they will make money in the form of ad revenue.
Posted on June 17, 2010, in Health. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
OH! AMEN SISTER!!!!!!! LOVE THIS POST!
I joined this local, non-televised version of this contest and sure, I lost some weight. But since it’s not a lifestyle change at all, when the contest was over and I went back to normal eating, I gained it all back. The problem is, when I bump into the people behind the contest (people selling this weight management meal replacement drink), the first thing they would ask me is, “Are you still taking the drink?” They seem friendly, but I can feel them–and other people–judging me. Whether it’s true or not, that’s how I feel.
I totally get where Kai’s coming from. You’re absolutely right; it should be a lifestyle change.
I totally agree. I haven’t watched that show and never will.