The Real Hunger Games

2/6/2014

It's irksome to see a woman attacked for being too thin after being pressured to lose weight on national television. Put the situation of this year's winner of Biggest Loser in context. She is a contestant on a show with other competitors, and was incentivized to lose as much weight as possible to win prize money. People tune in to be inspired and mesmerized by the progress show contestants make. Those contestants who don't demonstrate extreme progress get booted off the show.

This is what the Biggest Loser is about and always has been. It's not that different from Survivor. The winner is dehydrated, malnourished and exhausted all in the hope of being a few $$$ richer.

And why are we so particularly critical of a female contestant who won with 59.6% loss of body fat. A male contestant had lost 55% body fat compared to her 59.6. If he looked gaunt would the reaction been less vocal?

I don't watch the show because it bothers me to see how some of the contestants are treated. The weight loss pressure in the time frame allowed is not smart or healthy. (Subject of another blog)

Realize that it's a contest. If you don't like the process or the outcome vote with your eyes and stop watching the show but don't attack Rachel for trying to win a game show.

Similar to this show, your own physical condition as 'fat' ,'skinny', or anything in between does not bring about happiness and acceptance. Look at all the backlash she received after she won. Treat yourself right. Eat healthy and take your favorite fitness class. ;p

Richard

2/6/2014 03:52:28 am

Most people are not attacking Rachel, but NBC for allowing this to happen. Rachel was still on a 1600 calorie/day diet doing 3-4 exercise classes a day, walking on a treadmill any time she was working on editing voice-overs, and doing other activities like outdoor running. That is not healthy when someone is at or below their goal weight.

You certainly shouldn't blame Rachel for believing world class health professionals were giving her good advice, but you certainly can blame NBC and the show for giving her bad advice. And you can also blame NBC for sending her out to represent their brand when she does not even understand this diet/exercise plan is dangerous for her at her current weight. Instead, she's saying it's "healthy" and "the right way" and "natural" because she believed those professionals.

Roy

2/13/2014 02:19:46 am

You're right Richard, "most people" are not attacking Rachel, however there is a small and vocal minority, largely female that are criticizing her in a way that disturbs me because females, in general, are unfairly held under a microscope when it comes to physical appearance.

I agree that NBC and the production company for the Biggest Loser should be chastised for not being more diligent in their safeguards. However it is a game show where people compete for prize money. Much like the NFL, MMA, NHL, prizefights and the aforementioned Survivor, people risk their health (whether knowingly or unknowingly) in pursuit of a prize, money, and accolades.

It has been reported that Rachel was continuing on a 1600 calorie/day diet doing 3-4 exercise classes a day, walking on a treadmill and running. The combination of the two over a long period of time is not wise, but she WAS doing this in pursuit of a victory.

If she were to continue this regimen at or below her goal weight, she would likely be causing harm to her body. She may have been given that advice and decided to eschew it in pursuit of the $250,000. Or she may have been told that she is "healthy" by the professionals on the show. After watching a clip, it seemed to me that all three trainers registered an alarmed look on their faces.
I don’t know what truly happened, but as a trainer, I can only comment on what I would do which is to curb her exercise time and increase her caloric intake. In my career, I have helped people lose anywhere from 20 lbs to 100 lbs to prepare for important life events over a realistic timeline. I know what it takes to help someone lose weight and make a healthy program stick.

What I think we both want is for the contestants to be given better advice and not put themselves and their bodies in harm’s way.
The last thing we want to have happen is organ failure or death because the show pushed an overly aggressive diet and workout program. I would hope that NBC and the production company will provide an additional 3-6 months of consultation for their contestants.

It’s a shame that Rachel believed the “world class health professionals” that the show provided and is now representing “the Biggest Loser” brand when she does not even understand the diet/exercise plan she followed. She has been quoted as saying it's "healthy" and "the right way" and "natural". It is terrible that she equates skinny with healthy and I am afraid that is also the message that the show is sending to impressionable viewers.
Let me know what your thoughts are, feel free to join in the discussion.

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