“The Biggest Loser TV Show”: A losing proposition?

I was recently a guest on a radio show in which the host asked me a question that centered on the results of season 7 of “the biggest loser TV show.” This particular question had me jumping away from superficial specifics about the show and back into basics about body improvement for reasons that will become obvious once you know my opinion on losing body fat. The question was a forgettable inquiry into the typically overdramatized interactions among contestants on “reality” shows. My answer, though polite, alluded to my belief that “the biggest loser TV show” is a losing proposition by way of the losing message it sends to both contestants and viewers alike.

Aside from the insulting (yet somewhat clever) double entendre title that was picked for the show, the premise underlying the contest is damaging to say the least. Don’t get me wrong – I’m very competitive and love a good contest. However, having one for which “losing a lot of weight as quickly as possible” is rewarded can potentially send a message to millions that shedding a lot of pounds fast is a good thing. Nothing could be further from the truth. The longer I’m around this bodybuilding and fitness game (25 years now), the more I’m convinced that trimming off more than one pound of body fat per week is very detrimental to prospects for long-term leanness in most overweight people.

 

'Rapid weight loss' is usually a bad idea. Aim to lose no more than a pound per week and you will more likely preserve precious lean body mass.

 

Let’s look at the main reasons for anyone who’s not aware of them. These individuals just might start seeing “the biggest loser TV show” in a different light once they realize what it’s disseminating:

• The human body has built-in mechanisms by which it fights off the probability of starving to death. When the body perceives starvation, it slows its metabolism for protection. Any drastic calorie deficit can trigger this slow-down of metabolic rate – thereby inadvertently coaxing the body to preserve fat rather than shed it.

• Losing more than one pound of body fat per week increases the odds that the weight loss enthusiast will lose valuable lean body mass (muscle). This biologically active tissue is pure gold in the context of keeping the metabolism (and the ease of future fat loss) high. We want to burn the fat and keep the muscle. Engaging in a “lose as much fat as you can – fast” contest almost ensures that the contestants will lose vast amounts of lean tissue in the process.

• Considering the first two points above, a person who engages in “hyper-weight loss” like the kind that’s practiced on ‘The Biggest Loser TV Show’ will likely gain weight back with a vengeance once the unsustainable weight loss regimen is ceased. This often deals a harsh psychological blow that can add difficulty of future fat loss aspirations.

• Over training the body with the hell-bent intention of “losing fat as fast as possible” can raise the body’s cortisol levels. High levels of this “stress hormone” can squelch the release of youthful, fat-burning hormones as well as increase insulin resistance. Doing these things is nothing short of the antitheses of fitness and body health improvement.

Adding insult to possible ‘metabolic injury’ with the dispensation of the fast and furious fat loss message of ‘The Biggest Loser TV Show’ is the fact that it’s promulgated by “personal fitness trainers.” Apparently, the prospects of being a semi-famous television star supersede the ethical calling to promote only sound fitness advice for some people. That’s a shame.

My advice: Take a show that refers to its winner as “the biggest loser” with a grain of salt and keep in the back of your mind that all contestants involved may be losing more than body fat. In fact, they could be losing the relative ease with which to lose that fat in future attempts to do so.

Comments

[Scott]

Hi Acai Berry Pure,

Thank you for the nice words. I'm open to any feedback and blunt suggestions that might make ALL my posts brilliant.

Take Care!

Scott

[Acai Berry Pure]

All am just gonna say is keep up the good work... I spend 60% of my time reading blogs, and i find most of your posts brilliant