NBC’s reality television show “The Biggest Loser” debuted in the United States in 2004, setting the stage for a controversial era in entertainment that would include shows like ITV’s “The Jeremy Kyle Show,” which began casting its spell in Britain a year later. Like “The Biggest Loser,” this series centered around contestants who were living with obesity. It forced them to perform degrading tasks, all while documenting their weight loss progress.
The series has come under fire in recent years for its problematic approach. Many experts would strongly disagree, stating that it took advantage of its participants’ vulnerabilities. Contestants were subjected to extreme challenges and social shaming, all while the show framed their trauma and hardship as entertainment for its audience. Fitness trainer Jillian Michaels emerged as one of the show’s most-famous personalities. She gained infamy for her perpetually cynical look on contestants. Her refusal to participate in a recent documentary series about “The Biggest Loser” has raised further questions about the program’s legacy and its impact on participants.
Bob Harper, another popular fitness trainer from the show, agreed to be interviewed for the documentary. Most fascinatingly, he pulled back the curtain on the processes occurring behind the scenes. In reality, “The Biggest Loser” was usually described as a weight loss bootcamp-meets-bearpit reality show, providing just the right mix of attitude and inspiration to keep viewers hooked.
Ryan Benson was the artist named the winner of the show’s first season. What started as a positive benefit of his dramatic weight loss soon became a fatal double-edged sword. As his journey showed, success on these platforms can be incredibly short-lived. His transformation quickly turned into a cruel illustration of the brutal strain that contestants are put through. Danny Cahill, the season eight winner, breaks all those classic molds. All of Coyle’s recommendations do a good job of complicating weight loss narratives, including the fact that he doesn’t even look like someone who’s lost 100 pounds.
Aubrey Gordon is an author and podcaster who has studied and critiqued the social construction of weight. She’s spot-on about some of the core issues involved in programs such as “The Biggest Loser.” She appreciates how the show doesn’t shy away from tackling rich emotional territories. Though laudable, it usually neglects to acknowledge the obvious psychological ramifications of its presentation style.
“The show was trying to do deep emotional work,” – Aubrey Gordon
The mid-2000s was perhaps the most unusual period in television history. Reality television programs featuring sobering stories of average Americans—like “The Biggest Loser”—were born during this age and helped develop exciting narratives. The entertainment industry appeared to care more about creating shock and sensationalism than showing true support and understanding for those struggling with obesity.
In recent years, there has been an increasing call for more responsible portrayals of weight loss and body image in media. Critics contend that reality television needs to raise the discourse around health and wellness, not just make it a stupid sideshow. Documentaries and discussions led by advocates like Aubrey Gordon play an essential role in fostering broader conversations about representation and acceptance in society.
As nostalgia around shows like “The Biggest Loser” fades, it is crucial to reflect on their impact and acknowledge the complexities involved in weight loss journeys. The entertainment landscape is changing, with audiences holding creators to higher standards for thoughtful depictions of lives and stories outside their own.